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HOMICIDE AND RELATED OFFENCES

There was a 5.3% decrease in the number of homicide victims in Australia, from 454 in 2012 to a four year low of 430 in 2013. In Australia:

§ The homicide victimisation rate decreased to a four year low of 1.9 victims per 100,000 persons in 2013;

§ Just under two in three victims of homicide (64% or 273 victims) were male; and

§ Two-thirds of all homicide investigations (67% or 290 victims) were finalised by police within 30 days.

Murder

There was a 2.0% decrease in the number of murder victims in Australia, from 254 in 2012 to 249 in 2013. In Australia:

§ The murder victimisation rate has remained steady across the past four years at 1.1 victims per 100,000 persons;

§ Just under two in three victims of murder (63% or 157 victims) were male;

§ Males aged between 25 and 34 years accounted for the largest proportion of murder victims (21% or 53 victims);

§ Just under two in three murders (64% or 158 victims) occurred in a residential location;

§ Of weapons used in murder, a knife was the most common (43% or 83 victims); and

§ 69% of all murder investigations (171 victims) were finalised by police within 30 days.

Attempted murder

There was a decrease of one attempted murder victim in Australia, from 158 in 2012 to a four year low of 157 in 2013. In Australia:

§ The attempted murder victimisation rate has remained steady at 0.7 victims per 100,000 persons over the past two years;

§ Just under two in three victims of attempted murder (63% or 99 victims) were male;

§ Males aged between 25 and 34 years accounted for the largest proportion of attempted murder victims (24% or 37 victims);

§ Around three in five attempted murders (62% or 96 victims) occurred in a residential location;

§ Of weapons used in attempted murder, a knife was the most common (41% or 54 victims), followed by firearm (39% or 51 victims); and

§ 70% of all attempted murder investigations (109 victims) were finalised by police within 30 days.

Manslaughter

There was a 43% decrease in the number of manslaughter victims in Australia, from 42 in 2012 to a four year low of 24 in 2013. In Australia:

§ The manslaughter victimisation rate was 0.1 victims per 100,000 persons in 2013;

§ Seven in ten victims of manslaughter (71% or 17 victims) were male; and

§ 40% of all manslaughter investigations (10 victims) were finalised by police within 30 days.