PRINCIPAL OFFENCE

The predominant principal offence that offenders were proceeded against in 2007-08 was public order offences (25% of all offenders). The next most prevalent principal offences were acts intended to cause injury (18%) and illicit drug offences (14%).

There were similar principal offence patterns between male and female offenders in terms of the relative importance for nearly all offences. The exception was theft which was the principal offence for 19% of female offenders compared to 7% of male offenders.

Age was a factor when considering the type of principal offence that someone was proceeded against by police. Based on the median age of offenders by each principal offence type, offenders were younger for principal offences relating to unlawful entry with intent (median age 18 years), robbery and extortion and property damage and environmental pollution (both with a median age of 19 years). Offenders were much older for abduction (median age 47 years) and miscellaneous offences (median age 40 years).

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