CRIME AND JUSTICE STATISTICS FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA: 2003
Released on Wednesday, 22 December 2004.
LATEST REPORT SEES CRIME DROP AND IMPRISONMENT RISE
The University of Western Australia’s Crime Research Centre’s latest report Crime and Justice
Statistics for Western Australia: 2003, describes trends and patterns in crime, police arrests,
criminal court activity, imprisonment and juvenile contact with criminal justice.
The Centre’s Director, Frank Morgan, identified two of the trends emerging from the 2003 report
- decreases in crime and increases in the prison population.
On the decrease in crime rates, Mr Morgan said: "In 2003, offences against the person decreased
by 10.6 percent. For example, murders decreased from 40 to 26, and sexual offence rates
decreased by 11.3 percent. However, increases were recorded for assault (up 1.4 percent) and
robbery (up 9.4 percent)".
"Property crime rates decreased by 5.4 percent; including burglary (down 6.5 percent) and motor
vehicle theft (down 7.8 percent). Fraud and other theft also dropped, but property damage
offences increased," he said.
National comparisons are included in the report.
"Western Australia recorded lower rates than the rest of Australia for most violent offences, but
recorded higher rates for property offences. The State remained in highest position for burglary
in 2003," Mr Morgan said.
Theft and attempted theft of motor vehicles dropped by 7.8 percent.
"Western Australia led Australia’s motor vehicle theft decline, but was above the Australian
average for the first time since 1999. Nevertheless, motor vehicle theft rates have halved since
1995," Mr Morgan said.
Commenting on increases in the prison population and court activity, Mr Morgan said: "The
prison population increased by 3.4 percent in 2003, and the trend has continued into 2004."
Imprisonment has increasingly involved indigenous offenders, particularly indigenous women.
"Over three fifths of all prison receptions for motor vehicle or driving-related offences were of
indigenous offenders, and almost half of all female indigenous prisoners were imprisoned for
fine-default. Indigenous people accounted for 37 percent of prisoners on census night," Mr
Morgan said.
In the adult criminal courts, there was a 5.8 percent increase in the number of charges dealt with
in the Courts of Petty Sessions, and a 3.1 percent increase in the Higher Courts. The number of
juvenile cautions issued by police decreased by 17 percent while police referrals to justice teams
(0.9 percent) and the Children’s Court (5.6 percent) rose. Total community based orders
decreased in 2003, but intensive supervision orders rose by 11 percent.
Media Reference
Frank Morgan: +61 8 6488 3839 or 0404856081
Colin Campbell-Fraser: +61 8 6488 2889 or 0419947718
Copies of the report can be purchased ($30) by contacting the:
Administrative Secretary
Crime Research Centre, University of WA
Phone: +61 8 6488 2830
Fax: +61 8 6488 7918
Email: crime.research@uwa.edu.au
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