VICTIMISATION EXPERIENCES IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA ^{Endnote 1, Endnote 2, Endnote 3}

This section contains the victimisation and reporting rates for selected crime types for Western Australia. Estimates for Western Australia were compared with the national estimates to identify any differences that were statistically significant. Only significant differences are discussed in this section (refer to the Technical Note for more information regarding statistical significance).

The reference period for all estimates was the 12 months prior to interview in 2015–16.

PERSONAL CRIME (Tables 4, 5 and 10)


Total assault

In the 12 months prior to interview, an estimated, 6.6%^{Endnote 3} of persons in Western Australia (134,500) experienced assault. Just over two in five persons who experienced assault experienced a single incident (42% or 56,800). A similar number (40% or 54,400) experienced three or more incidents, while another one in six (17% or 22,500) experienced two incidents.

Physical assault

An estimated 3.6% of persons in Western Australia (73,300) experienced physical assault. The physical assault victimisation rate in Western Australia (3.6%) was higher than the national rate (2.4%). Of these, 49% (36,100) had their most recent incident reported to police. Over half of all persons who experienced physical assault experienced a single incident (55% or 40,300) and 28% (20,800) experienced three or more incidents.

Total threatened assault

In the 12 months prior to interview, an estimated 4.1%^{Endnote 3} of persons in Western Australia (83,900) experienced threatened assault. Three in ten persons who experienced threatened assault experienced a single incident (30% or 24,900), while half experienced three or more incidents (51% or 42,800).

Face-to-face threatened assault

In Western Australia, an estimated 3.8% of persons (76,700) experienced face-to-face threatened assault. The face-to-face threatened assault victimisation rate in Western Australia (3.8%) was higher than the national rate (2.6%). Of these, 38% (29,400) had the most recent incident reported to police.

Non face-to-face threatened assault

An estimated 1.0% of persons in Western Australia (20,600) experienced non face-to-face threatened assault.

HOUSEHOLD CRIME (Tables 6 and 7)


Break-in

In Western Australia, an estimated 4.1% of households (39,100) experienced a break-in. The break-in victimisation rate in Western Australia (4.1%) was higher than the national rate (2.5%). Of these, 77% (30,000) had the most recent incident reported to police.

Attempted break-in

An estimated 3.6% of households in Western Australia (34,400) experienced an attempted break-in. The attempted break-in victimisation rate in Western Australia (3.6%) was higher than the national rate (2.1%). Of these, 42% (14,300) had the most recent incident reported to police.

Motor vehicle theft

In the 12 months prior to interview, an estimated 0.7% of households in Western Australia (6,900) experienced motor vehicle theft.

Theft from motor vehicle

An estimated 5.7% of households in Western Australia (55,000) experienced theft from a motor vehicle. The theft from a motor vehicle victimisation rate in Western Australia (5.7%) was higher than the national rate (2.9%). Of these households, 52% (28,500) had the most recent incident reported to police.

Malicious property damage

In Western Australia, an estimated 7.2% of households (69,100) experienced malicious property damage. The malicious property damage victimisation rate in Western Australia (7.2%) was higher than the national rate (4.8%). Of these, 62% (42,800) had the most recent incident reported to police.

Other theft

An estimated 3.9% of households in Western Australia (37,100) experienced other theft. The other theft victimisation rate in Western Australia (3.9%) was higher than the national rate (2.7%). Of these, 35% (13,000) had the most recent incident reported to police.

ENDNOTES

Endnote 1 Data for number of victims, victimisation and reporting rates are not discussed where the relative standard error (RSE) for the estimates is greater than 25%. This has resulted in some crime types being excluded from this commentary text. These data are available in Table 2; users are advised to exercise caution when interpreting these estimates.

Endnote 2 All comparisons discussed have been tested for statistical significance with a 95% level of confidence that there is a real difference in the two populations being tested. Only data with a relative standard error (RSE) of less than 25% are referred to in the text of this publication and these estimates are considered sufficiently reliable for general use. To determine whether there is a statistical difference between any other two estimates, significance testing should be undertaken. For further information, refer to the Technical Note.

Endnote 3 This number is not published in the accompanying tables, but can be obtained by dividing the number of victims of a selected crime type by the relevant population total (in this case, the total population of people over the age of 15 in Western Australia).