Highest assault offender numbers recorded in 15 years

Police proceeded against 91,007 offenders for acts intended to cause injury in 2022–23, according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). 

William Milne, ABS head of crime and justice statistics, said: “This was the highest number recorded in the 15 years since this report began and most of these offenders were proceeded against for assault. In 2022–23, assault offender numbers increased by 8 per cent from the previous year to 81,933 offenders.”

All states and territories recorded an increase in acts intended to cause injury between 2021–22 and 2022–23, with the largest recorded in New South Wales (up 3,295 offenders or 9 per cent), followed by Queensland (up 1,428 offenders or 11 per cent) and Western Australia (up 945 offenders or 13 per cent). 

Most offenders proceeded against for acts intended to cause injury were male (75 per cent) and were most commonly aged between 25 and 34 years (27 per cent). 

In contrast, the overall number of offenders recorded by police in Australia decreased by 6 per cent from the previous year to 347,742 offenders in 2022–23.

 “This decline is largely due to a decrease in miscellaneous offences (down 82 per cent or 49,975 offenders). Most miscellaneous offences over the past few years had been fines issued for COVID-19 related offences,” Mr Milne said. 

Further details can be found in Recorded Crime - Offenders available as a free download from the ABS website.