Statistics about the outcomes of police investigations describe the status of the processes of police investigations that are initiated following the reporting or detection of an offence. At any point in time, the status of investigations can include:
not finalised (i.e. were still continuing, were pending or were suspended)
finalised without an offender being proceeded against because the reported offence was not verified, the complaint was withdrawn, or the alleged offender could not be proceeded against because of some statutory or procedural bar and
finalised and an offender was proceeded against by initiating court action or some other form of formal proceeding (e.g. a diversionary conference or a formal caution).
In 2010, 78% of police investigations into murder and 74% of attempted murder investigations were finalised within 30 days of a victim becoming known to police.
The lowest proportions of finalisations at 30 days were for victims of unlawful entry with intent (11%), motor vehicle theft (14%) and other theft (17%).
The highest proportions of investigations finalised where there was no offender proceeded against were for victims of sexual assault (19%) and blackmail/extortion (15%) (table 13.6).
13.6 RECORDED CRIME – VICTIMS(a), Outcome of investigation at 30 days—2010
Finalised
ANZSOC Division/Subdivision(b)
Not finalised
No offender proceeded against
Offender proceeded against
Total(c)
Homicide and related offences
Murder
51
7
171
229
Attempted murder
52
—
142
194
Manslaughter
12
—
19
31
Total
115
7
332
454
Sexual assault
10 651
3 325
3 781
17 757
Kidnapping/abduction
353
55
195
603
Robbery
Armed robbery
3 757
204
1 687
5 648
Unarmed robbery
6 339
521
2 074
8 934
Total
10 096
725
3 761
14 582
Blackmail/extortion
295
69
109
473
Unlawful entry with intent
Involving the taking of property
137 069
2 811
12 799
152 679
Other
56 735
1 384
6 088
64 207
Total
193 804
4 195
18 887
216 886
Motor vehicle theft
47 306
1 761
5 669
54 736
Other theft
380 736
13 502
66 931
461 169
— nil or rounded to zero (including null cells)
(a) Depending on the type of crime, a victim may be a person, a premises, an organisation or a motor vehicle.
Statistics contained in the Year Book are the most recent available at the time of preparation. In many cases, the ABS website and the websites of other organisations provide access to more recent data. Each Year Book table or graph and the bibliography at the end of each chapter provides hyperlinks to the most up to date data release where available.
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This page first published 24 May 2012, last updated 11 November 2015
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OUTCOMES OF POLICE INVESTIGATIONS
Statistics about the outcomes of police investigations describe the status of the processes of police investigations that are initiated following the reporting or detection of an offence. At any point in time, the status of investigations can include:
In 2010, 78% of police investigations into murder and 74% of attempted murder investigations were finalised within 30 days of a victim becoming known to police.
The lowest proportions of finalisations at 30 days were for victims of unlawful entry with intent (11%), motor vehicle theft (14%) and other theft (17%).
The highest proportions of investigations finalised where there was no offender proceeded against were for victims of sexual assault (19%) and blackmail/extortion (15%) (table 13.6).