Embargoed until Thursday 13 December 2001
Crime and Justice Statistics for Western Australia, 2000
The Crime Research Centre at the University of Western Australia today released its report on Crime and Justice Statistics for Western Australia: 2000.
The report describes general crime trends in Western Australia, as well as trends in police arrests, criminal court activity (including some sentencing trends) and general patterns of imprisonment.
The report found that the total number of crimes reported to the police rose by almost 5% during 2000. However, while property crime increased by almost 6%, the rate of violent offences fell by 1.4%.
More specifically, the rate of home burglary rose by almost 7% in 2000. However, the rate of motor vehicle theft dropped by the same percentage points.
Since the mid 1990s, the rate of motor vehicle theft has dropped significantly in WA - from 1,755 per 100,000 registered vehicles to 1,100 per 100,000 - a decline of 37%. WA now has one of the lowest rates of motor vehicle theft in the nation.
Compared with other Australian states, and excepting burglary, WA had average or below average recorded crime rates for all other types of offences in 2000.
In line with reported crime figures, police apprehensions increased by almost 6% in 2000. Police cautioning of juvenile offenders also increased by 6%, however, police referrals of young offenders to 'teams' decreased by 13%.
Of all the juveniles who appeared before the Children's Court in 2000, 11% were placed in detention. These offenders were responsible for 17.5% of all offences heard by the court.
The WA juvenile detention rate in 2000 was one of the highest in the nation (exceeded only by Tasmania and NT). WA had the highest rate of detention for Aboriginal juveniles - 31 times the rate for non-Aboriginal juveniles and almost twice the national rate.
Compared with 1999, there was a significant increase in activity in the adult criminal courts - a 22% increase in the Higher Courts and an 11% increase in the Courts of Petty Sessions.
In the Higher Courts, almost 80% of charges resulted in conviction and, of these, two-thirds were given custodial sentences. Prison sentences were most likely for violent offences. For some specific types of offences (assault, robbery, burglary and motor vehicle theft), the use of suspended prison sentences has increased since 1996.
Compared with 1999 figures, prison receptions increased by 8% and the prison census increased by 9%, reflecting a growing number of prisoners serving generally longer prison sentences.
The number of offenders ordered to serve sentences in the community also increased in 2000. Work and development orders increased by 7%, intensive supervision orders increased by 20% and community-based orders rose by 14%. However, home detention orders fell by 7%.
One of the authors of the report, Ms Anna Ferrante stated:
"While there are clear signs that crime reduction strategies such as the introduction of car engine immobilisers have been effective, the high rate of burglary remains a challenge for criminal justice policy-makers and the community in WA."
Ms Ferrante went on to say that:
"Another significant challenge is the over-representation of Aboriginal people in the justice system. A decade after the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, Aboriginal people continue to be over-represented in the system - both as victims and as offenders. The statistics are grim."
In 2000, Aboriginal people were five times more likely to be victims of violence than non-Aboriginal people. Aboriginal arrest rates were ten times the comparable rate for non-Aborigines, adult imprisonment rates were 26 times the comparable rate, and juvenile detention rates were more than 30 times the rate for non-Aboriginals.
Copies of the report (cost $30) can be obtained from:
The Administrative Secretary,
Crime Research Centre, University of WA
Phone (08) 6488 2830
Fax (08) 6488 1034
Email crime.research@uwa.edu.au
Electronic copies of the report are also available (in PDF format) from the Centre’s Web site at:
Statistical Report 2000 [PDF 2.9Mb]
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