4530.0 - Crime Victimisation, Australia, 2013-14 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 17/02/2015   
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MEDIA RELEASE
17 February 2015
Embargo: 11.30 am (Canberra time)
21/2015

Threats of assault, property damage still top the crime list

Australians were more likely to have experienced threatened assault than any other type of personal crime during 2013-14, according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

"Being threatened with assault - in a face-to-face situation - is still the most common type of personal crime, with nearly half a million Australians experiencing this sort of threat," said William Milne from the ABS.

"For men, the threat was most likely to come from a stranger, while for women it was more likely to come from someone they knew.

"Almost two-thirds of people who were threatened with assault didn't report the incident to police, often because they thought the incident was too trivial or unimportant.

"People also felt that alcohol or other drugs contributed to the incident in around half of all cases.

"When it comes to household crime, malicious property damage continues to be the most common, with over half a million homes - about six per cent - experiencing it.

"Half the people who experienced property damage didn't report the incident to police, most commonly thinking it was too trivial to report.

"Outside items - such as letterboxes, fences, walls and outdoor furniture - were the most commonly damaged items, about two-thirds of the time, followed by cars or motor bikes about a quarter of the time," said Mr Milne.

Further information can be found in Crime Victimisation, Australia (cat. no. 4530.0), available as a free download from the ABS website - http://www.abs.gov.au.

Media Notes:
  • Statistics in this media release refer to people over the age of 15, and relate to the most recent incident the person has experienced.
  • Statistics relating to contribution of alcohol to incidents refer to people over the age of 18, and relate to the most recent incident the person has experienced.
  • When reporting ABS data the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or ABS) must be attributed as the source.
  • Media requests and interviews - contact the ABS Communications Section on 1300 175 070