Family and domestic violence sexual assault up 13%

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Released
24/06/2021
Source
Recorded Crime - Victims, 2020

The number of police recorded victims of family and domestic violence related sexual assault increased by 13 per cent in 2020, according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

ABS Director of Crime and Justice Statistics, William Milne, said the number of victim-survivors of family and domestic violence (FDV) related sexual assault recorded by police rose to 10,162 from the previous year.

“This was considerably more than the 2 per cent increase reported between 2018 and 2019.

“Close to two in five victims of sexual assault recorded by police throughout 2020 were FDV-related.

“Almost three quarters of FDV-related sexual assault victim-survivors were aged under 19 years at the time the incident occurred (71 per cent) and the majority were female (86 per cent)” Mr Milne said.

The ABS data released today also showed that in 2020 property crimes fell to their lowest level in over twenty-five years.

Over the past 12 months, property crimes recorded by police declined with:

  • other theft falling 23 percent to 436,615 victims
  • break-ins also down 23 percent to 133,870 victims
  • motor vehicle theft down 17 percent to 48,056 victims

“This decrease in property crime coincided with the introduction of restrictions put in place to slow the spread of COVID-19” Mr Milne said.

Further information can be found in the Recorded Crime – Victims, 2020 publication available as a free download from the ABS website www.abs.gov.au.

Media notes

  • For the purposes of this release, a specified family or domestic relationship includes partner, ex-partner, parent, other family member (e.g. child, sibling) and non-family members (e.g. carer, guardian).
  • Other theft includes theft from a person (excluding by force), retail theft and illegal use of property.
  • A victim for the purposes of this publication is defined by the type of offence committed. This can be a person, premises, an organisation or a motor vehicle.
  • When reporting ABS data you must attribute the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or the ABS) as the source.
  • For media requests and interviews, contact the ABS Media Team via media@abs.gov.au (8.30am-5pm Mon-Fri).
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