Crime 2011/12
Offences Against the Person
The broad offence group of offences against the
person is comprised of a number of different
offence categories, with the volume of offences
reported differing significantly across categories.
For example, assaults account for 66% of offences
against the person (Figure 1) while homicide
(murder) accounts for less than 1%. Thus, assault
offences tend to dominate offences against the
person, while homicide (murder) will have little
effect on the overall total.
Sexual Offences
16%
Robbery
6%
Oth. Offences Against the Person
12%
Fifteen to nineteen year old females were most
likely to have been victims of offences against the
person in 2011/12 followed by ten to fourteen
year old females. From the age of twenty years,
males were more likely than females to be
victims. For 61% of victims of solved offences, the
offenders were known to them.
More males were proceeded against for offences
against the person compared with females. Males
accounted for 77% of offenders, with 30% of all
offenders being male aged fifteen to twenty four
years. The likelihood of offending peaked in the
fifteen to nineteen year age group for both males
and females and decreased with increasing age.
Of those who were found to have committed
offences against the person, approximately 56%
were proceeded against through an arrest with
a further 25% proceeded through the issue of a
notice to appear.
Homicide (Murder)
Assault
66%
Figure 1: offences against the person (%) - 2011/12
Overall, the number of offences against the person
increased by 3% in Queensland between 2010/11
and 2011/12. A total of 30,768 offences were
reported to police in 2011/12, 999 more than the
revised figure from the previous financial year.
Taking into account the growth of the Queensland
population, the rate of offences against the person
increased by 2% from 665 to 680 offences per
100,000 persons.
Of the 30,768 offences against the person
reported to police during the 2011/12 financial
year, 22,800 (74%) were cleared by the end
of June 2012 compared with 75% cleared the
previous year. An additional 3,495 offences
reported in previous time periods were also
cleared during 2011/12.
As with previous years, North Queensland (Far
Northern and Northern Regions) recorded the
highest rates of offences against the person, while
Metropolitan South Region recorded the lowest.
Homicide (murder) is a small volume offence
category and, as such, is subject to sizeable
fluctuations from one year to the next and from
region to region.
The number of homicide (murder) offences
decreased by 10 offences in Queensland for
2011/12 compared with 2010/11. Of the 42
homicides reported to police in 2011/12, 34
(81%) were cleared in the same period. An
additional 7 offences were cleared from previous
periods.
Metropolitan South Region recorded the highest
increase and Central Region recorded the largest
decrease of homicide (murder) offences within
the State. The highest rate was recorded by South
Eastern Region and the lowest rate was recorded
by Central Region.
This year, 68% of the victims of homicide (murder)
were male. The highest rate of homicide (murder)
offences occurred for males in the twenty to twenty
four year age group which recorded a rate of 4
offences per 100,000 persons. In 59% of solved
cases, the offender was known to the victim.
Males were significantly more likely than females
to commit homicide (murder) (84%). In 2011/12,
males aged twenty to twenty four years were most
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likely to offend. In 95% of cases, the offender was
proceeded against through an arrest.
Other Homicide
As with homicide (murder), other homicide is
a low-volume offence category. Therefore, it
is subject to marked fluctuations from year to
year and from area to area. The number of other
homicide offences decreased by 11% during
2011/12, as a result of decreases in attempted
murder (3 offences) and driving causing death (7
offences).
Factoring in the increase of the Queensland
estimated resident population, other homicide
offences decreased by 12% to a rate of 1 offence
per 100,000 persons. Of the 65 offences reported
to police in 2011/12, 56 (86%) were cleared in
the same period. Additionally, 16 offences were
cleared from previous periods.
Central Region reported the highest rate of
other homicide offences while Southern Region
recorded the lowest rate as well as the largest
decrease in the State.
Just over two-thirds (73%) of the victims of other
homicide were male with the highest rate recorded
in the twenty to forty four years age group. For
every age group, except twenty to twenty four
years, males were more likely to be victims than
females. In 58% of the solved cases, the offender
was known to the victim.
Males were significantly more likely than females
to commit other homicide offences (81% of
offenders were male). In 2011/12, males aged
twenty to twenty four years were most likely to
offend. Sixty nine percent of offenders were
proceeded against through an arrest, while 25%
were issued with a notice to appear.
Assault
Assaults comprise approximately 66% of total
offences against the person. As such, they tend
to dominate this broad offence group. The number
of assaults in Queensland increased by 6% from
2010/11 to 2011/12. This equates to a rate of
449 offences per 100,000 persons in 2011/12.
The overall increase in the rate of assaults is
attributable to increases in serious assault,
serious assault other and common assault. Of the
20,331 assaults reported to police in 2011/12,
15,692 (77%) were cleared in the same period
with a further 2,152 offences cleared from
previous periods.
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Figure 2: Reported assaults, Queensland, 2007/08 to 2011/12
Higher rates of serious assault were seen in
2011/12 (Figure 2). A possible explanation for this
is a broadening of the definition of serious assault
to include, for example, assault of a person aged
sixty years or more, assault on physically impaired
people and assaulting a police officer in the
execution of their duty.
As with previous years, Far Northern and Northern
Regions recorded the highest rates of assault
in the State while Metropolitan South Region
recorded the lowest. Metropolitan North Region
recorded the only decrease in the rate of assault.
For all age groups, except fifteen to nineteen
years, males were more likely than females to be
victims of assault. Males aged twenty to twentynine years were most likely to be victims. From age
thirty for males and nineteen for females, the rate
of victimisation decreased steadily with increased
age. For 60% of victims of solved offences, the
offender was known to them.
Across all age groups, males were also more likely
to commit offences of assault (73% of offenders
were male). Males aged fifteen to nineteen years
were most likely to offend. Of those people
proceeded against, 52% were arrested and 30%
were issued with a notice to appear.
Sexual Offences
Sexual offences are particularly affected by an
unpredictable variability in the reported rates
due to the fact that offences occurring decades
ago are still being reported to police. As offences
are counted against the period in which they
are reported, rather than when they occurred,
increases in crime statistics do not always equate
to an increase in victimisation.
The number of sexual offences reported to police
in 2011/12 decreased by 8% from the number
reported in the previous financial year. The
number reported equates to a rate of 105 offences
reported per 100,000 persons. The decrease in
the rate is attributable to a decrease of 9% in
rape and attempted rape and 8% in other sexual
offences. Of those offences reported in 2011/12,
3,551 (75%) were cleared within 2011/12, with
an additional 816 offences cleared from previous
periods.
Six of the eight regions recorded decreases in
sexual offences with North Coast Region recording
the largest decrease of 22%. Metropolitan North
Region recorded the lowest rate in the State.
The Sexual Offence category is one of two offence
categories for which there are more female victims
than male (85% of victims were female). Females
aged between ten and nineteen years were most
likely to be victims of sexual offences. Females in
this age group comprise 48% of total victims. For
74% of victims of solved offences, the offender
was known to them. In 33% of solved cases, the
offender was a family member.
In total, 102 females committed sexual offences in
2011/12 accounting for only 5% of all offenders.
The age distribution of male offenders is unique
for this offence type in that the distribution is
almost uniform across all age groups with the
exception of fifteen to nineteen year olds. The
number of offenders is only slightly lower in the
older age groups, with males aged fifty years and
over representing 16% of all sexual offenders. For
those proceeded against, 57% were arrested and
11% were issued with a notice to appear.
Robbery
An overall increase of 2% in the number of robbery
offences was reported to police in 2011/12. This
result was due to a 13% increase in armed robbery
offences within the reporting period. A total of
1,816 offences were reported to police, which
equates to a rate of 40 offences per 100,000
persons. Of these, 1060 (58%) were cleared in
the period in which they were reported, with an
additional 129 offences cleared from previous
periods.
The rate of robbery offences reported to police in
2011/12 increased by one per cent. The rate of
reported armed robbery recorded a 12% increase
while unarmed robbery recorded a decrease of 9%
(Figure 3).
Figure 3: Reported robbery offences, Queensland, 2007/08 to 2011/12
Robbery offences tend to occur more frequently
in the south-east corner of the State as was the
case in 2011/12. South Eastern Region reported
the highest rate of robbery offences in the State,
despite recording the largest decrease in robbery
offences. Central Region recorded the largest
increase of 36% and North Coast Region recorded
the lowest rate in the State.
For every age group, except forty five to forty nine,
males were more likely than females to be victims
of robbery, with males aged fifteen to nineteen
years most likely to be victims. Males were victim
of robbery offences in 72% of all cases reported to
police. For the majority of victims (82%) of solved
robbery offences, the offender was unknown to
them.
Males were significantly more likely than females
to commit robbery offences (85% of offenders
were male) and 73% of total offenders were aged
between fifteen and twenty-nine years. Of those
proceeded against for robbery offences, 86% were
arrested and 8% issued with a notice to appear.
Other Offences Against the
Person
The category of other offences against the
person includes offences such as kidnapping
and abduction, deprivation of liberty, extortion,
stalking and life endangering acts.
In 2011/12, other offences against the person
increased by 6% from 3,548 to 3,774 offences.
When taking into account the growth of
Queensland’s population, the rate increased by
5%. Of the 3,774 reported other offences against
the person, 64% were cleared in the same period.
In addition, 375 offences reported in previous
periods were also cleared.
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Females represented 51% of victims of total other
offences against the person. People most likely
to be victims of other offences against the person
were female and aged between fifteen and nineteen
years and males aged between zero and four years.
For 65% of victims of solved offences, the offender
was known to them.
Offences Against Property
The offence group of offences against property is
comprised of a number of offence categories. As
with offences against the person, the contribution
of each category to the total differs significantly
(Figure 4). In 2011/12, other theft (excl. unlawful
entry) accounted for 47% of total offences against
property and was the highest in volume of the
property offence categories. Unlawful entry
with intent accounted for 20%, other property
damage accounted for 19% of offences, with fraud
accounting for 6%. As such, this broad offence
group tends to be dominated by other theft (excl.
unlawful entry) and unlawful entry with Intent, with
offence categories such as arson having little effect.
The number of reported offences against property
for the 2011/12 period increased by 7% when
compared with the 2010/11 period. Factoring in
the growth of the Queensland population, offences
against property were reported at a rate of 5,101
offences per 100,000 persons in 2011/12, an
increase of 6% from the previous year. Of all
offences against property reported in 2011/12, 30%
were cleared in the same period with a further 4%
offences cleared from previous periods.
Overall, offences against property were more
likely to be committed by males (76% of offenders
were male). Over one quarter (28%) of offenders
proceeded against for offences against property
were male aged between fifteen and nineteen
years. Of the total people proceeded against for
offences against property,42% were arrested, 43%
were issued with a notice to appear and 10% were
cautioned.
Unlawful Entry
The number of unlawful entry offences increased by
6%. This equates to a 5% increase in the rate once
the growth of the Queensland population is taken
into account. Of the 45,710 offences reported to
police in 2011/12, 20% were cleared in the same
period with a further 1,635 offences cleared from
previous periods.
The number of unlawful entry of dwellings increased
by 12%, the number of unlawful entry of shops
decreased by 5% and unlawful entry of other
premises remained stable.
Northern Region recorded the highest rate (1,494
offences per 100,000 persons) while North Coast
Region recorded the lowest rate (694 offences per
100,000 persons). Far Northern Region recorded the
largest increase of 21% in the period under review.
Most unlawful entry offences were committed by
young males. In fact, 89% of offenders were male
and approximately 64% were male aged under
twenty-five years. Of all offenders proceeded against
for unlawful entry offences, 60% were arrested, 11%
cautioned and 22% issued with a notice to appear.
Arson
Figure 4: offences against property (%) - 2011/12*
Footnote: * Percentages have been rounded to the nearest whole number.
Therefore, although the percentages are correct, they do not add to 100%..
Northern Region recorded the highest rate of
offences against property (6,615 offences per
100,000 persons) in the State, while North Coast
Region recorded the only decrease (2%) and the
lowest rate (3,980 offences per 100,000 persons).
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With Honour We Serve
Arson is the lowest in volume of the offences against
property categories and, as such, exerts very little
influence on the offences against property total.
Arson offences increased by 26% from 2010/11 to
2011/12. The rate of offences increased by 24%,
from 27 to 34 offences per 100,000 persons. Of the
1,536 offences reported in 2011/12, 278 (18%)
were cleared in the same period. An additional 33
offences were cleared from previous periods.
Metropolitan North Region recorded the only
decrease (14%), and also recorded the lowest
rate (12 offences per 100,000 persons). Similar to
previous years, South Eastern Region recorded the
highest rate (77 offences per 100,000 persons)
and also reported the largest increase in the period
under review.
This year, 87% of offenders were male with fifteen
to nineteen year old males being the most likely
to be proceeded against for arson. Approximately
59% of offenders were arrested, 16% cautioned
and 12% issued with a notice to appear.
Other Property Damage
The number of other property damage offences
reported in 2011/12 increased by 2% when
compared to the previous financial year, however
the rate of offences per 100,000 persons
remained stable. Of those offences reported to
police in 2011/12, 13,523 (32%) were cleared
during this period, with an additional 1,672
offences cleared from previous time periods.
Northern Region recorded the highest rate of
1,346 offences per 100,000 persons. The largest
decrease was recorded by Metropolitan North
Region (20%) and Metropolitan South Region
recorded the lowest rate of other property damage
offences (745 offences per 100,000 persons).
As with most offence types, fifteen to nineteen
year old males were most likely to be proceeded
against for other property damage offences. Only
13% of offenders were female and only 16% of
offenders were aged thirty years or more. In total,
35% of offenders were arrested for this offence
type, 11% were cautioned and 48% were issued
with a notice to appear.
Unlawful Use of Motor Vehicle
The rate of unlawful use of motor vehicle offences
increased by 22% in 2011/12 which equated to
2,270 more offences reported during 2011/12
when compared to 2010/11.
In 2011/12, 11,979 unlawful use of motor vehicle
offences were reported to police. Of these, 3,971
(33%) were cleared during this period, with an
additional 570 offences cleared from previous
periods (note: for recovery rates see Glossary,
page 169). In 2011/12, unlawful use of motor
vehicle offences were reported at a rate of 265
offences for every 100,000 persons.
South Eastern Region recorded the highest rate of
these offences while Northern Region recorded the
largest increase. The lowest rate of 146 offences
per 100,000 persons was recorded by North Coast
Region.
Males aged fifteen to nineteen years were most
likely to commit unlawful use of motor vehicle
offences (49% of male offenders were in this
group). Forty eight percent of all offenders were
aged fifteen to nineteen years. Approximately 67%
of offenders were arrested and 22% were served
with a notice to appear.
Other Theft (excluding Unlawful
Entry)
Other theft (excluding unlawful entry) offences
increased by 11% from 2010/11 to 2011/12. This
category is the highest in volume of the offences
against property categories and thus exerts a
significant influence on property crime as a total.
In 2011/12, 108,476 other theft offences were
reported to police, of which 27% were cleared
during this period. A further 3,534 offences were
cleared from previous periods.
All of the four sub-categories of other theft
offences recorded increases in the number of
offences reported: stealing from dwellings (4%),
shop stealing (3%), steal from vehicles (4%),
and other s tealing (20%). Approximately
71% of shop stealing offences were cleared
during the 2011/12 period, making this the
highest clearance rate within the other theft subcategories.
The highest rate of other theft (excluding unlawful
entry) offences occurred in South Eastern Region
while the lowest rate was recorded in Central
Region in the year under review. Northern Region
recorded the highest increase (21%) of other
theft (excluding unlawful entry) offences during
2011/12.
Males were significantly more likely than females
to commit other theft offences (67% of offenders
were male). For both males and females, those in
the fifteen to nineteen year age group were most
likely to commit other theft offences. Arrest rates
are low for this offence type at 32%, while 51%
were issued with a notice to appear and 13%
(mostly juvenile) were cautioned. Ninety seven
percent of all offenders cautioned were juvenile
(i.e. aged between ten and sixteen years).
Fraud
Queensland recorded a decrease in the number
of offences per 100,000 persons in most subcategories of fraud offences during the current
period: fraud by computer (64%), fraud by cheque
(23%), and other fraud (9%). This resulted in an
overall decrease of 11% in total fraud offences.
Fraud by credit card and identity fraud offences
recorded increases of 25% and 12% respectively
in 2011/12.
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Of the 14,916 offences reported in 2011/12,
8,707 (58%) were cleared in the same period with
a further 2,167 offences cleared from previous
periods.
Metropolitan North Region recorded the highest
rate of fraud offences while Far Northern Region
recorded the lowest rate. North Coast Region
recorded the largest decrease and the greatest
increase was recorded by Metropolitan North
Region.
A relatively higher proportion of females commit
fraud offences compared with other offence types
with 37% of offenders being female. Males aged
twenty five to twenty nine years and females
aged twenty to twenty four years were most likely
to commit fraud offences. Thirty five percent of
offenders were arrested, while 58% were issued
with a notice to appear.
Handling Stolen Goods
Handling stolen goods offences recorded an
increase of 14% in the number of offences
reported. The rate of offences increased by 12%,
from 104 to 117 offences per 100,000 persons.
Of the total 5,273 offences reported to police in
2011/12, 4,750 (90%) were cleared in the same
period, with a further 230 offences cleared from
previous periods.
Far Northern Region recorded the highest rate of
handling stolen goods offences while Metropolitan
South Region recorded the largest increase (45%).
North Coast Region recorded the lowest rate and
also recorded the greatest decrease (12%) in the
year under review.
As with most offence categories, males were most
likely to commit handling stolen goods offences
(75% of offenders were male) and males in the
fifteen to nineteen year age group were most likely
to offend. Offenders were more likely to be issued
with a notice to appear for handling stolen goods
offences.
Other Offences
Other offences is a broad collection of disparate
offence categories. These categories are distinct
from offences against the person and property
in that they are generally offences detected by
police rather than being reported by the public.
Drug offences, traffic offences and prostitution
offences are examples of this. Trends and patterns
in the levels of other offences are therefore often
indicative of specific initiatives of the Police Service
rather than being indicative of the level of crime
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actually occurring. As such, increases are often
seen as a positive improvement of police detection
rates.
As a total, the number of other offences increased
by 7% statewide from 156,893 offences recorded
in 2010/11 to 167,622 offences recorded in
2011/12. This equates to a rate of 3,705 offences
per 100,000 persons in 2011/12.
Six of the eight regions recorded increases in total
other offences with South Eastern Region recording
the largest increase of 14%. Rates are traditionally
higher in the northern part of the State and this
trend was again repeated in 2011/12 with Northern
Region recording the highest rate in the State.
Drug Offences
Drug offences overall reported an 11% increase
in the number of offences. All of the five sub
categories of drug offences reported increases
which resulted in the overall increase. When
taking into account the growth of Queensland’s
population, drug offences recorded an increase of
10%.
Far Northern Region recorded the highest rate of
drug offences in the State. The highest increase
was recorded by South Eastern Region (25%).
Metropolitan South Region recorded the lowest rate
(791 offences per 100,000 persons).
Breach of Domestic Violence
Protection Orders
Breach of domestic violence protection orders are a
breach of a court order and, as such, are classed as
“Regina” offences; hence, the inclusion under other
offences and not offences against the person.
The 2011/12 financial year reported a 9% increase
in the number of breach of domestic violence
protection orders. A total of 11,101 offences
were reported to police, equating to a rate of 245
offences per 100,000 persons.
Metropolitan Regions recorded the lowest rate
of Breach of Domestic Violence Protection Order
offences in the State, while the northern regions
again recorded the highest. Northern Region
recorded the largest increase (16%) and the highest
rate of 609 offences per 100,000 persons.
Weapons Act Offences
The number of weapons act offences increased by
11% from 3,412 offences reported in 2010/11 to
3,778 offences reported in 2011/12. The overall
increase is attributable to increases in all five
weapons sub categories. Increases were recorded
in unlawful possession firearm concealable firearm
(26%), unlawful possession firearm – other (9%),
bomb possession and/or use of offences (31%),
possession and/or use other weapons offences
(11%), and weapons act offences – other (1%).
Six of the eight regions recorded increases in
weapons act offences during the 2011/12 financial
year. Northern and Central Regions recorded the
only decreases of 16% and 1% respectively. During
2011/12, Far Northern Region recorded the highest
rate of 123 offences per 100,000 persons while
Metropolitan South Region recorded the lowest
rate of 60 offences per 100,000 persons.
Good Order Offences
Good order offences increased by 8% from
2010/11 to 2011/12. A total of 51,674 offences
were detected by police which equates to a rate of
1,142 offences for every 100,000 persons.
Northern Region recorded the highest rate of good
order offences in the State. The lowest rate was
recorded in Metropolitan South Region, with North
Coast and Metropolitan North Regions reporting
the only decreases.
Traffic and Related Offences
Traffic and related offences increased by 3%
from 38,318 to 39,494 offences. Two of the four
sub-categories recorded increases of which the
largest was a 31% increase in disqualified driving.
Drink driving is the largest in volume of the subcategories and, as such, exerts the greatest
influence on the traffic and related offences total.
The rates for this sub-category recorded a 7%
decrease per 100,000 persons.
Metropolitan North Region recorded the largest
decrease as well as the lowest rate of traffic and
related offences. Metropolitan South Region and
Southern Region both recorded the largest increase
of 8% in the period under review. Far Northern
Region recorded the highest rate of 1,338 offences
per 100,000 persons.
Please note that the traffic and related offences
category referred to above includes dangerous
operation of a vehicle, drink driving, disqualified
driving and Interfere with the mechanism of a
motor vehicle only. For information on Speed and
Red Light Camera Notices or Random Breath Tests
please refer to the traffic section on pages 141147.
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