4519.0 - Recorded Crime - Offenders, 2013-14 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 25/02/2015   
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RECORDED CRIME - OFFENDERS, 2013-14 – WESTERN AUSTRALIA

TOTAL OFFENDERS

  • In 2013-14, there were 30,760 offenders in Western Australia, which represented an increase of 2% (or 621 offenders) from 2012-13.
  • The (crude) offender rate decreased by 1% from 1,401 in 2012-13 to 1,387 offenders per 100,000 persons aged 10 years and over in 2013-14.
SEX

Between 2012-13 and 2013-14:
  • The number of male offenders increased by 4% (or 936 offenders) to 23,472; and
  • The number of female offenders decreased by 4% (or 272 offenders) to 7,075.

AGE

Between 2012-13 and 2013-14:
  • The median age of offenders increased from 28 years to 29 years; and
  • The number of youth offenders decreased by 11% (or 625 offenders) from 5,622 to 4,997.
PRINCIPAL OFFENCE

In 2013-14, the five most common principal offences in Western Australia were:
  • Acts intended to cause injury (5,888 offenders or 19% of the total);
  • Illicit drug offences (5,785 offenders or 19% of the total);
  • Public order offences (3,879 offenders or 13% of the total);
  • Offences against justice (3,134 offenders or 10% of the total); and
  • Theft (2,876 offenders or 9% of the total).

OTHER KEY POINTS

In 2013-14, Western Australia had:
  • The second lowest offender rate (1,387 offenders per 100,000 persons aged 10 years and over), after the Australian Capital Territory (921 offenders per 100,000 persons aged 10 years and over);
  • The lowest youth offender rate, at 1,588 offenders per 100,000 persons aged 10 years and over; and
  • The second highest proportion of female offenders (24% or 7,075 offenders) after the Australian Capital Territory (26% or 708 offenders).
No data are available for police proceedings or repeat offenders in Western Australia. For more information refer to Explanatory Notes paragraph 60.

For further information, refer to the other chapters of this publication, or contact the National Information Referral Service on 1300 135 070. When reporting ABS statistics, please attribute the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or ABS) as the source.