Recorded Crime - Offenders

Australia’s federal, state and territory governments put restrictions in place to slow the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) from March 2020. The restrictions, and associated penalties for breaching these restrictions, varied across the jurisdictions. This should be considered when interpreting the Recorded Crime – Offenders data for associated reference periods.

Offences specifically related to the COVID-19 restrictions were coded to ANZSOC 1629 Public health and safety offences, n.e.c.  Data about offenders who were proceeded against by police for at least one of these offences are presented in the COVID-19 related offences section.

There were 369,488 offenders proceeded against by police across Australia in 2021–22, a 3% increase (up 9,513 offenders) from the previous year.

The offender rate also increased from 1,599 offenders in 2020–21 to 1,632 offenders per 100,000 persons in 2021–22.

The increase in offenders nationally was largely driven by the increase in COVID-19 related offences in New South Wales.

The three most common principal offences were:

• acts intended to cause injury with 83,926 offenders (23%)
• miscellaneous offences with 61,299 offenders (17%)
• illicit drug offences with 50,920 offenders (14%)

Acts intended to cause injury and illicit drug offences have consistently been among the three most common offence types since 2012–13.

Miscellaneous offences increased by 30,020 offenders in 2021–22, a 96% increase from the previous year (from 31,209 to 61,229 offenders). This was largely due to fines being issued for COVID-19 related offences in New South Wales.

Illicit drug offences decreased by 19% from the previous year (down 11,778 offenders), the sixth consecutive year that illicit drug offenders have decreased.

The offender rate also decreased from 278 offenders in 2020–21 to 225 offenders per 100,000 in 2021–22, the lowest rate recorded since the time series began in 2008–09.

Three-quarters of offenders proceeded against by police were male.

The male offender rate was around three times higher than the female offender rate with:

• 2,482 male offenders per 100,000 males
• 798 female offenders per 100,000 females

Acts intended to cause injury was the most common principal offence for both male offenders (23% or 63,339 offenders) and female offenders (23% or 20,538 offenders).

The median age of offenders in Australia peaked at 31 years in 2020–21 and remained stable in 2021–22.

Most offenders (70%) proceeded against by police were aged under 40 years in 2021–22.

There were 45,210 offenders aged between 10 and 17 years proceeded against by police in Australia, an increase of 2% from 2020–21.

However, after accounting for population change in that time, the youth offender rate decreased slightly from 1,785 offenders in 2020–21 to 1,778 offenders per 100,000 persons aged between 10 and 17 years in 2021–22.

More than one in five (22%) youth offenders were proceeded against for acts intended to cause injury, which was the most common principal offence among youth offenders (10,126 offenders).

Miscellaneous offences more than doubled among youth offenders, an increase of 2,298 offenders from the previous year. These were largely COVID-19 related offences.

There were 3,503 youth offenders with a principal offence of illicit drug offences in 2021–22, a decrease of 14% from 2020–21. This was the seventh consecutive decrease for this offence.

In 2021–22, the youth offender rate for illicit drugs decreased further from the previous year, from 164 offenders to 138 offenders per 100,000 persons aged between 10 and 17 years. This was the lowest recorded rate since the time series began in 2008–09.

Most (70%) youth offenders were male (31,555 offenders).

The male youth offender rate was more than twice the female youth offender rate:

• 2,411 male offenders per 100,000 males aged between 10 and 17 years
• 1,099 female offenders per 100,000 females aged between 10 and 17 years

Acts intended to cause injury was the most common principal offence for males (20% or 6,179 offenders) and females (29% or 3,931 offenders). For this offence, female youth offenders increased by 7% while male youth offenders remained stable from the previous year.

Among youth offenders in 2021–22, the largest group of offenders were aged 17 years (23% or 10,220 offenders).

Acts intended to cause injury was the most common principal offence for offenders aged between 11 and 17 years (between 19% and 28% of offenders in each age group).

Unlawful entry with intent was the most common principal offence for offenders aged 10 years (30% or 127 offenders).

In most states and territories, at least 60% of youth offenders were proceeded against by police once throughout 2021–22. In the Northern Territory, 46% of youth offenders were proceeded against by police once (348 offenders).

The mean number of times youth offenders were proceeded against by police was:

• 2.6 times in the Northern Territory
• 2.4 times in Queensland
• 2.2 times in Tasmania
• 2.1 times in both New South Wales and South Australia
• 1.8 times in the Australian Capital Territory
• 1.7 times in Victoria

There were 68,791 offenders proceeded against for at least one COVID-19 related offence in 2021–22. The majority (68%) were proceeded against in New South Wales (46,986 offenders).

The number of offenders proceeded against for COVID-19 related offences in other states and territories were:

• 16,360 in Victoria
• 1,757 in South Australia
• 1,574 in Queensland
• 1,171 in Western Australia
• 515 in the Northern Territory
• 217 in Tasmania
• 210 in the Australian Capital Territory

Nearly three-quarters (74%) of all COVID-19 related offenders in Australia were male.

Across the states and territories, the proportion of male offenders ranged from 64% in the Northern Territory to 74% in New South Wales and Victoria.

Just over a third (34%) of COVID-19 offenders were aged between 20 and 29 years (23,448 offenders).

The median age varied across the states and territories from 28 years in Victoria to 38 years in Western Australia.

Most COVID-19 offenders were proceeded against by police only once during the reference period across all the selected states and territories.

The number of proceedings for a COVID-19 related offence in 2021–22 were:

• 62,962 in New South Wales
• 18,018 in Victoria
• 1,797 in South Australia
• 1,661 in Queensland
• 601 in the Northern Territory
• 235 in Tasmania
• 216 in the Australian Capital Territory

Most COVID-19 related proceedings were non-court actions in the published states and territories, except for the Australian Capital Territory. The proportions of non-court actions were:

• 94% in Queensland
• 92% in Victoria
• 91% in New South Wales
• 80% in Tasmania
• 48% in the Australian Capital Territory

In 2021–22, the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander offenders proceeded against by police was:

• 17,469 in New South Wales
• 17,142 in Queensland
• 5,021 in the Northern Territory
• 3,760 in South Australia
• 391 in the Australian Capital Territory

The most common principal offence for Aboriginal and Torres Strait offenders was acts intended to cause injury:

• 55% in New South Wales (9,597 offenders) and the Northern Territory (2,762 offenders)
• 44% in South Australia (1,663 offenders)
• 39% in the Australian Capital Territory (152 offenders)
• 27% in Queensland (4,569 offenders)

Most Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander offenders were male:

• 79% in the Northern Territory
• 75% in the Australian Capital Territory
• 72% in New South Wales
• 69% in South Australia
• 68% in Queensland

The most common age for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander offenders was between:

• 15 and 19 years in Queensland (3,047 offenders or 18%) and New South Wales (2,736 offenders or 16%)
• 30 and 34 years in the Northern Territory (758 offenders or 15%), South Australia (577 offenders or 15%) and the Australian Capital Territory (76 offenders or 19%)

The mean number of times Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander offenders were proceeded against by police in 2021–22 was:

• 2.9 times in New South Wales
• 2.4 times in Queensland
• 2.2 times in South Australia
• 1.7 times in the Northern Territory and in the Australian Capital Territory

The total number of police proceedings recorded in 2021–22 were:

• 238,434 in New South Wales
• 143,276 in Queensland
• 110,920 in Victoria
• 36,329 in South Australia
• 12,940 in the Northern Territory
• 12,933 in Tasmania
• 3,185 in the Australian Capital Territory

The numbers of proceedings decreased in all published states and territories except New South Wales (up 20% or 39,674 proceedings) and the Australian Capital Territory (up 4% or 112 proceedings).

In New South Wales, miscellaneous offence proceedings increased by more than seven times from the previous year (up 51,892 proceedings), as a result of fines issued for COVID-19 related offences.

The most common principal offences proceeded against by police were:

• acts intended to cause injury in the Northern Territory (28%), the Australian Capital Territory (27%), Tasmania (20%) and Victoria (19%)
• miscellaneous offences in New South Wales (25%)
• illicit drug offences in South Australia (21%) and Queensland (20%)

With the exception of New South Wales, the majority of police proceedings were court actions in all published states and territories:

• 83% in the Australian Capital Territory
• 79% in Queensland
• 75% in Tasmania
• 66% in Victoria

The most common principal offences for court proceedings were:

• acts intended to cause injury in New South Wales (37%), the Australian Capital Territory (30%), Victoria (27%) and Tasmania (25%)
• illicit drug offences and offences against justice (both 20%) in Queensland

The majority of police proceedings in New South Wales in 2021–22 were non-court actions (55% or 130,676 proceedings). This was a 42% increase in non-court proceedings from the previous year and largely driven by fines issued for COVID-19 related offences.

The most common principal offences for non-court proceedings were:

• miscellaneous offences in Victoria (51%) and New South Wales (43%)
• public order offences in Tasmania (34%), Queensland (32%) and the Australian Capital Territory (24%)

There were 134,571 offenders proceeded against by police in New South Wales in 2021–22, an increase of 22% from the previous year.

The overall offender rate in New South Wales also increased from 1,542 offenders in 2020–21 to 1,892 offenders per 100,000 persons in 2021–22.

The increase in offenders in New South Wales was caused by a rise in miscellaneous offences (from 5,739 to 37,221 offenders), largely due to fines being issued for COVID-19 related offences.

The most common principal offence types in New South Wales were:

• miscellaneous offences with 37,221 offenders (28%)
• acts intended to cause injury with 35,161 offenders (26%)

The offender rate for miscellaneous offences increased from 80 offenders in 2020–21 to 523 offenders per 100,000 in 2021–22. This was largely due to fines being issued for COVID-19 related offences. For all other offence types, with the exception of acts intended to cause injury, the offender rates remained steady or declined between 2020–21 and 2021–22.

Illicit drug offences decreased by 18% (2,616 offenders) from 2020–21. This was the fourth consecutive annual decrease for illicit drug offences in New South Wales.

Three-quarters (75%) of offenders in New South Wales were male.

The male offender rate was more than three times the female offender rate with:

• 2,885 male offenders per 100,000 males
• 914 female offenders per 100,000 females

There were 18,012 offenders aged between 10 and 17 years in 2021–22, a decrease of less than one percent (116 offenders) from the previous year. Youth offenders comprised 13% of total offenders in New South Wales in 2021-22.

The offender rate was higher among youth when compared with the total New South Wales population with:

• 2,268 youth offenders per 100,000 persons aged between 10 and 17 years
• 1,892 total offenders per 100,000 persons

The most common principal offences for youth offenders were:

• fare evasion with 5,713 offenders (32%)
• acts intended to cause injury with 3,638 offenders (20%)

There were 17,469 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander offenders proceeded against by police during 2021–22.

More than half (55%) of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander offenders had a principal offence of acts intended to cause injury (9,597 offenders).

In 2021–22 there were 238,434 police proceedings in New South Wales. Of these:

• 55% were non-court actions (130,676 proceedings) - up 38,294 proceedings (or 42%) from 2020–21
• 45% were court actions (107,758 proceedings) - up 1,376 proceedings (or 1%) from 2020–21

Over two-fifths (43%) of non-court actions were for miscellaneous offences. The increase in non-court actions in 2021–22 was largely due to fines being issued for COVID-19 related offences.

Over a third (37%) of court actions were for acts intended to cause injury.

 In 2021–22, there were 74,825 offenders proceeded against by police, a 5% decrease from the previous year.

The offender rate decreased from 1,343 offenders in 2020–21 to 1,297 offenders per 100,000 persons in 2021–22.

The most common principal offences in Victoria were:

• miscellaneous offences with 17,458 offenders (23%)
• acts intended to cause injury with 17,020 offenders (23%)

Miscellaneous offences continued to be the most common principal offence despite an 11% decrease (down 2,234 offenders) from the previous year. The majority of miscellaneous offences in Victoria were fines issued for COVID-19 offences.

The decrease in miscellaneous offences drove the overall 5% decrease in the number of offenders in Victoria in 2021–22.

Over three-quarters (78%) of offenders in Victoria were male (58,053 offenders).

The male offender rate was more than three times the rate of female offenders with:

• 2,046 male offenders per 100,000 males
• 572 female offenders per 100,000 females

There were 7,028 offenders aged between 10 and 17 years in 2021–22, an increase of 8% from the previous year. Youth offenders comprised 9% of total offenders proceeded against by police in Victoria in 2021–22.

The youth offender rate increased from 1,055 offenders in 2020–21 to 1,127 offenders per 100,000 persons aged between 10 and 17 years in 2021–22.

Over a quarter (27%) of youth offenders were proceeded against for acts intended to cause injury (1,909 offenders), an increase of 12% (201 offenders) from the previous year.  

There were 110,920 police proceedings in Victoria in 2021–22, a 15% decrease from the previous year. This decrease was driven by:

• miscellaneous offences (down 40% or 13,621 proceedings)
• illicit drug offences (down 18% or 2,458 proceedings)
• theft (down 8% or 1,074 proceedings)

The decrease in miscellaneous offences was largely due to a decrease in fines being issued for COVID-19 related offences.

The majority (66%) of police proceedings were court actions (72,661 proceedings).

Around a quarter (27%) of court actions were for acts intended to cause injury (19,842 proceedings).

Just over half (51%) of all non-court actions were miscellaneous offences (19,374 proceedings), largely due to fines being issued for COVID-19 related offences.

In 2021–22, there were 81,469 offenders proceeded against by police, a 4% decrease from the previous year.

The offender rate decreased from 1,857 offenders in 2020–21 to 1,762 offenders per 100,000 persons in 2021–22.

Illicit drug offences were the most common principal offence in 2021–22 (21% or 17,036 offenders), despite a decrease of 18% from the previous year.

Miscellaneous offences increased by 67% (563 offenders) to 1,404 offenders in 2021–22. This was largely due to fines being issued for COVID-19 related offences.

Almost three-quarters (74%) of offenders in Queensland were male (60,090 offenders).

The male offender rate was nearly three times the rate of female offenders with:

• 2,635 male offenders per 100,000 males
• 912 female offenders per 100,000 females

There were 10,304 offenders aged between 10 and 17 years in 2021–22, comprising 13% of total offenders proceeded against in Queensland.

The number of youth offenders remained stable from the previous year. However, after accounting for population change in that time, the youth offender rate decreased from 1,910 to 1,863 offenders per 100,000 persons aged between 10 and 17 years.

The most common principal offence for persons aged between 10 and 17 years was acts intended to cause injury. A higher proportion of youth offenders were proceeded against for acts intended to cause injury compared with the total Queensland offender population:

• 22% of youth offenders (2,221 offenders)
• 16% of total offenders (12,885 offenders)

Youth offenders proceeded against for illicit drug offences decreased from 1,736 offenders in the previous year to 1,465 offenders aged between 10 and 17 years. This was the lowest number since 2008–09 and the seventh consecutive annual decrease.

In 2021–22 there were 17,142 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander offenders in Queensland, a decrease of 2% (or 422 offenders) from 2020–21. The offender rate in Queensland for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander offenders decreased from 9,299 offenders in 2020–21 to 8,851 offenders per 100,000 persons in 2021–22.

More than a quarter (27%) of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander offenders were proceeded against for acts intended to cause injury. This was the most common principal offence for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander offenders (4,569 offenders).

There were 143,276 police proceedings in Queensland in 2021–22, a 4% decrease from 2020–21. The majority (79%) of police proceedings were court actions (112,508 proceedings).

The most common principal offences for court proceedings were:

• illicit drug offences (20% or 22,992 proceedings)
• offences against justice (20% or 21,988 proceedings)

Almost a third (32%) of non-court actions were for public order offences (9,705 proceedings).

Total police proceedings for illicit drug offences decreased by 20% to 28,612 proceedings, similar to the change in the previous year (down 18% in 2020–21).

There were 25,217 offenders proceeded against by police in South Australia in 2021–22, a decrease of 19% from the previous year.

The offender rate also decreased from 1,995 offenders in 2020–21 to 1,573 offenders per 100,000 persons, the lowest rate recorded in the time series.

Nearly half (49%) of all offenders had a principal offence of either:

• illicit drug offences with 6,726 offenders (27%)
• acts intended to cause injury with 5,548 offenders (22%)

The number of illicit drug offenders decreased for the sixth consecutive year, down 2,700 offenders (or 29%) from 2020–21. The offender rate also decreased from 602 offenders to 419 offenders per 100,000 persons in the same period.

Three-quarters of all offenders in South Australia were male (18,933 offenders).

The male offender rate was more than three times the female offender rate with:

• 2,401 male offenders per 100,000 males
• 768 female offenders per 100,000 females

There were 1,971 offenders aged between 10 and 17 years in South Australia in 2021–22, comprising 8% of total offenders in South Australia. The number of youth offenders decreased by 5% from 2020–21.

The offending rate for youth was lower than the rate for all persons in South Australia with:

• 1,161 youth offenders per 100,000 persons aged between 10 and 17 years
• 1,573 offenders per 100,000 persons

The most common principal offence for youth offenders was acts intended to cause injury (29% or 563 offenders).

There were 3,760 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander offenders in South Australia in 2021–22.

More than two-fifths (44%) of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander offenders had a principal offence of acts intended to cause injury (1,663 offenders).

There were 36,329 police proceedings in South Australia in 2021–22.

The most common offence proceeded against in 2021–22 was illicit drug offences (21% or 7,760 proceedings).

There were 34,579 offenders proceeded against by police in Western Australia in 2021–22, a decrease of 3% from the previous year. This was the lowest number recorded since the time series began in 2008–09.

The offender rate also decreased from 1,526 offenders in 2020–21 to 1,434 offenders per 100,000 persons in 2021–22, the fifth consecutive decrease.

Just over a fifth (22%) of offenders in Western Australia had a principal offence of acts intended to cause injury (7,440 offenders).

Offenders with a principal offence of illicit drug offences decreased by 19% from the previous year to 5,844 offenders in 2021–22.

Miscellaneous offences increased by 33% to 1,369 offenders, largely due to an increase in COVID-19 related offences.

Almost three quarters (72%) of offenders in Western Australia were male (24,960 offenders).

The male offender rate was almost three times higher than the female offender rate with:

• 2,075 male offenders per 100,000 males
• 781 female offenders per 100,000 females

In Western Australia, there were 6,037 offenders aged between 10 and 17 years proceeded against by police in 2021–22. This was an increase from the previous year of 6% (up 359 offenders), in contrast with the decrease in total offenders in Western Australia.

The youth offender rate increased from 2,137 offenders in 2020–21 to 2,160 offenders per 100,000 persons aged between 10 and 17 years in 2021–22. This youth offender rate was higher than the total offender rate in Western Australia (1,438 offenders per 100,000 persons).

More than a fifth (21%) of youth offenders had a principal offence of acts intended to cause injury (1,263 offenders). This was the most common principal offence for youth offenders in Western Australia in 2021–22, followed by theft with 1,096 offenders.

A higher rate of youth offenders had a principal offence of theft and related offences compared with the total Western Australian offender population:

• 392 youth offenders per 100,000 persons
• 162 total offenders per 100,000 persons

In 2021–22, there were 7,809 offenders proceeded against by police in Tasmania, a decrease of 7% from the previous year.

The offender rate decreased from 1,744 offenders in 2020–21 to 1,536 offenders per 100,000 persons in 2021–22, the lowest since the time series began and the fifth consecutive decrease.

More than a quarter (26%) of offenders in Tasmania had a principal offence of acts intended to cause injury (2,055 offenders).

Offenders proceeded against for public order offences decreased by 32% (or 518 offenders) to 1,119 offenders.

Almost three quarters (74%) of offenders in Tasmania were male (5,773 offenders).

The male offender rate was almost three times higher than the female offender rate with:

• 2,297 male offenders per 100,000 males
• 785 female offenders per 100,000 females

In Tasmania, there were 888 offenders aged between 10 and 17 years proceeded against by police in 2021–22, comprising 11% of total offenders in Tasmania. The number of youth offenders increased by 5%, in contrast with the overall 7% decrease in total offenders in Tasmania.

The youth offender rate increased from 1631 offenders in 2020–21 to 1,660 offenders per 100,000 persons aged between 10 and 17 years in 2021–22.

More than a quarter (29%) of youth offenders had a principal offence of acts intended to cause injury (260 offenders). This was the most common principal offence for youth offenders in Tasmania in 2021–22.

A higher proportion of youth offenders had a principal offence of theft and related offences compared with the total Tasmanian offender population:

• 20% of youth offenders (181 offenders)
• 9% of total offenders (733 offenders)

There were 12,933 police proceedings in Tasmania in 2021–22, mostly (75%) court actions (9,703 proceedings).

A quarter of all court actions were for acts intended to cause injury (2,402 proceedings). More than a third (34%) of non-court actions were for public order offences (1,081 proceedings).

There were 8,690 offenders proceeded against by police in the Northern Territory in 2021–22. This was a decrease of 5% (down 491 offenders) from the previous year.

The offender rate also decreased from 4,348 offenders to 4,062 offenders per 100,000 persons.

More than a third (35%) of offenders in the Northern Territory had a principal offence of acts intended to cause injury (3,077 offenders).

Between 2020–21 and 2021–22, the largest decreases in offender numbers were:

• public order offences, down 499 offenders (or 21%)
• illicit drug offences, down 388 offenders (or 33%)

Miscellaneous offences almost tripled (up 346 offenders) to 525 offenders in 2021–22, largely due to an increase in COVID-19 related offences.

In 2021–22, almost three-quarters (74%) of offenders were male (6,424 offenders) with a 5% decrease (down 338 offenders) from the previous year.

The male offender rate was more than double the female offender rate with:

• 5,925 male offenders per 100,000 males
• 2,121 female offenders per 100,000 females

There were 754 offenders aged between 10 and 17 years in 2021–22, comprising 9% of total offenders proceeded against by police. The number of youth offenders increased by 14% (or 91 offenders) from the previous year, in contrast with the overall 5% decrease in total offenders in the Northern Territory.

The youth offender rate also increased from 2,527 offenders to 2,855 offenders per 100,000 persons aged between 10 and 17 years.

Around one in three (34%) youth offenders were proceeded against for unlawful entry with intent (257 offenders), a 34% increase from the previous year (up 65 offenders). Youth offenders comprised more than half (55%) of all offenders proceeded against for this offence.

In 2021–22, there were 5,021 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander offenders proceeded against by police in the Northern Territory.

The offender rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander offenders decreased from 7,847 offenders to 7,791 offenders per 100,000 persons from the previous year.

The most common principal offence for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander offenders was acts intended to cause injury (55% or 2,762 offenders).

There were 12,940 police proceedings in the Northern Territory in 2021–22.

More than half (52%) of proceedings had a principal offence of either:

• acts intended to cause injury (28% or 3,610 proceedings)
• public order offences (24% or 3,052 proceedings)

There were 2,328 offenders proceeded against by police in the Australian Capital Territory in 2021–22, a 5% increase from the previous year.

However, after accounting for population change in that time, the offender rate decreased slightly from 593 offenders in 2020–21 to 586 offenders per 100,000 persons in 2021–22.

The most common principal offence in the Australian Capital Territory was acts intended to cause injury with 742 offenders (32%).

For offenders with a principal offence of acts intended to cause injury, between 2020–21 and 2021–22:

• the number of offenders increased by 12% (80 offenders)
• the rate increased from 177 to 187 offenders per 100,000 persons

The number of offenders with a principal offence of miscellaneous offences was more than six times higher than in 2020–21 (to 166 offenders), largely due to an increase in COVID-19 offences. The rate also increased from 7 offenders to 42 offenders per 100,000 persons from the previous year.

The majority (78%) of offenders in the Australian Capital Territory were male (1,810 offenders).

The male offender rate was more than three and a half times higher than the female offender rate with:

• 928 male offenders per 100,000 males
• 256 female offenders per 100,000 females

There were 223 offenders aged between 10 and 17 years in 2021–22, comprising 10% of total offenders in the Australian Capital Territory.

The offender rate was lower among youth when compared with the total Australian Capital Territory offender population with:

• 529 youth offenders per 100,000 persons aged between 10 and 17 years
• 586 total offenders per 100,000 persons

More than a third (38%) of youth offenders had a principal offence of acts intended to cause injury (85 offenders).

There were 391 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander offenders in 2021–22, an increase of 5% from the previous year.

Acts intended to cause injury was the most common principal offence for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander offenders (39% or 152 offenders).

There were 3,185 police proceedings in the Australian Capital Territory in 2021–22, an increase of 4% from 2020–21. The majority (83%) were court actions (2,640 proceedings).

There were 81,873 offenders proceeded against by police for at least one family and domestic violence (FDV) related offence in 2021–22. This was around one in five (22%) offenders recorded nationally.

The offender rate was 362 FDV offenders per 100,000 persons.

Four in five FDV offenders were male (80% or 65,122 offenders).

The rate of FDV offending was around four times higher for males than for females:

• 583 male FDV offenders per 100,000 males
• 146 female FDV offenders per 100,000 females

The median age of FDV offenders was 34 years. This was higher than the median age of all offenders who were proceeded against by police during 2021–22 (31 years).

The most common age for FDV offenders was between:

• 30 and 34 years (16%) for males (10,188 offenders)
• 25 and 29 years (15%) for females (2,458 offenders)

The most common principal FDV offences were:

• assault, comprising just over half (51%) of all FDV offenders (41,427 offenders)
• breach of violence and non-violence orders, comprising over a quarter (28%) of all FDV offenders (22,831 offenders)

There were 42,456 offenders (52% of all FDV offenders) proceeded against by police for at least one breach of an FDV related violence or non-violence order in Australia in 2021–22, an increase of 3% from the previous year.

Of these:

• 83% were male (35,174 offenders)
• the median age was 35 years

Across the states and territories, the number of offenders proceeded against for at least one breach of an FDV related violence or non-violence order was:

• 14,488 in Queensland
• 10,918 in New South Wales
• 9,452 in Victoria
• 3,403 in Western Australia
• 1,645 in South Australia
• 1,513 in the Northern Territory
• 872 in Tasmania
• 159 in the Australian Capital Territory

This release previously used catalogue number 4519.0.