Media release – Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), 8 February 2024

Highest assault offender numbers recorded in 15 years

Police proceeded against 91,007 offenders for acts intended to cause injury in 2022–23, according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

William Milne, ABS head of crime and justice statistics, said: “This was the highest number recorded in the 15 years since this report began and most of these offenders were proceeded against for assault. In 2022–23, assault offender numbers increased by 8 per cent from the previous year to 81,933 offenders.”

All states and territories recorded an increase in acts intended to cause injury between 2021–22 and 2022–23, with the largest recorded in New South Wales (up 3,295 offenders or 9 per cent), followed by Queensland (up 1,428 offenders or 11 per cent) and Western Australia (up 945 offenders or 13 per cent).

Most offenders proceeded against for acts intended to cause injury were male (75 per cent) and were most commonly aged between 25 and 34 years (27 per cent).

In contrast, the overall number of offenders recorded by police in Australia decreased by 6 per cent from the previous year to 347,742 offenders in 2022–23.

“This decline is largely due to a decrease in miscellaneous offences (down 82 per cent or 49,975 offenders). Most miscellaneous offences over the past few years had been fines issued for COVID-19 related offences,” Mr Milne said.

Further details can be found in Recorded Crime – Offenders available as a free download from the ABS website.

Tasmania

In 2022–23, there were 7,388 offenders proceeded against by police in Tasmania, a decrease of 5% from the previous year.

After accounting for population growth, the offender rate also decreased from 1,536 offenders in 2021–22 to 1,444 offenders per 100,000 persons aged 10 years and over in 2022–23, the sixth consecutive decrease. 

Principal offence type

More than a quarter (29%) of offenders in Tasmania had a principal offence of acts intended to cause injury (2,132 offenders).

Sex

Nearly three-quarters (74%) of offenders in Tasmania were male (5,470 offenders).

The male offender rate was nearly three times higher than the female rate, with:

  • 2,167 male offenders per 100,000 males
  • 734 female offenders per 100,000 females
Youth offenders

In Tasmania, there were 1,012 offenders aged between 10 and 17 years proceeded against by police in 2022–23, an increase of 14% from the previous year. Youth offenders comprised 14% of total offenders in Tasmania. 

Accounting for population change, the youth offender rate also increased from 1,660 offenders in 2021–22 to 1,877 offenders per 100,000 persons aged between 10 and 17 years in 2022–23.

More than a quarter (29%) of youth offenders had a principal offence of acts intended to cause injury (295 offenders).

Family and domestic violence (FDV)

There were 1,483 offenders proceeded against for an FDV related offence in Tasmania, staying relatively stable from the previous year.

During 2022–23:

  • FDV offenders accounted for 20% of all offenders proceeded against in Tasmania
  • the offender rate was 290 FDV offenders per 100,000 persons

The majority of FDV offenders in Tasmania:

  • had a principal offence of acts intended to cause injury (62%)
  • were male (80%)
  • were proceeded against once in the year (72%)

The male offender rate was around four times higher than the female offender rate with:

  • 472 male FDV offenders per 100,000 males
  • 115 female FDV offenders per 100,000 females

There were 2,190 FDV court action proceedings in Tasmania in 2022–23.