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VICTIMS OF FAMILY AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE – RELATED OFFENCES



INTRODUCTION



This chapter presents experimental data about victims of selected Family and Domestic Violence (FDV) –related offences1. Victims of selected offences have been determined to be FDV–related where the relationship of offender to victim, as stored on police recording systems, falls within a specified family or domestic relationship2 or where an FDV flag has been recorded, following a police investigation3.



Users should be aware that data about victims of FDV–related offences may be reflective of changes in reporting behaviour or police detection. As a result, caution should be exercised when interpreting these results, or making comparisons across the states and territories.



The data referred to in this chapter are drawn from the data cube: Experimental Data – Victims of Family and Domestic Violence. (Tables 1–6)



KEY FINDINGS



Homicide and related offences



In 2015, there were 158 victims of FDV –related Homicide in Australia, which accounted for over a third (38%) of total Homicide victims recorded by police nationally. The victimisation rate remained stable at 7 victims per 1 million persons, compared to 2014. (Table 2)



Females accounted for almost two thirds (65%) of all victims of FDV–related Homicide in Australia in 2015 (103 victims). (Table 2)



Around a third (35%) of FDV–related Homicides did not involve the use of a weapon (55 victims), while over a quarter (27%) involved the use of a knife (43 victims), and less than one in ten (8%) involved the use of a firearm (12 victims). (Table 2)



Assault



In 2015, across the selected states and territories4 there were: 30,467 victims of FDV–related Assault in New South Wales, or 400 victims per 100,000 persons;

18,274 victims of FDV–related Assault in Western Australia, or 706 victims per 100,000 persons;

7,740 victims of FDV–related Assault in South Australia, or 456 victims per 100,000 persons;

4,076 victims of FDV–related Assault in the Northern Territory, or 1,668 victims per 100,000 persons;

1,198 victims of FDV–related Assault in Tasmania, or 232 victims per 100,000 persons; and

693 victims of FDV–related Assault in the Australian Capital Territory, or 177 victims per 100,000 persons. (Table 1)

In 2015, females were more likely than males to be victims of FDV –related Assault across all the selected states and territories as follows: In New South Wales, there were twice as many female victims (20,338 victims) as male victims (10,104) of FDV–related Assault. Females were four times more likely to be the victim of Assault within an intimate partner relationship (13,124 victims), when compared to males (3,419 victims).

In South Australia, there were three times as many female victims of FDV–related Assault (5,926 victims) compared to males (1,815 victims). Females were almost six times more likely (4,490 victims) than males (816 victims) to have experienced victimisation within an intimate partner relationship.

In Western Australia, females were three times (13,291 victims) more likely than males (4,858 victims) to have been a victim of FDV –related Assault.

In the Northern Territory, there were five times as many female victims (3,351) of FDV–related Assault, as male victims (722). Females were seven times more likely (2,570 victims) than males (371 victims) to have experienced Assault victimisation within an intimate partner relationship.

In the Australian Capital Territory, there were three times more female victims (510) of FDV – related Assault compared to male victims (187). Females were four times more likely (331 victims) than males (76 victims) to have experienced Assault victimisation within an intimate partner relationship. (Tables 1 and 3)





Across the selected states and territories, victims of FDV– related Assault were most likely to have been aged between 25 and 34 years, with this age group comprising: A quarter (25%) of victims of FDV–related Assault in New South Wales (7,676);

30% of victims of FDV–related Assault in South Australia (2,331);

31% of victims of FDV–related Assault in Western Australia (5,670);

29% of victims of FDV–related Assault in Tasmania (351);

A third (33%) of victims of FDV – related Assault in the Northern Territory (1,352);

31% of victims of FDV –related Assault in the Australian Capital Territory (212). (Table 3)

Despite a higher representation of female victims of FDV–related Assault across most age groups in 2015, males accounted for a higher number of victims aged between 0 and 9 years, across all the selected states and territories, with the exception of Tasmania. (Table 3)







Sexual assault and related offences



There were 7,464 victims of FDV–related Sexual assault recorded nationally in 2015. This accounts for over a third (35%) of all victims of Sexual assault that were reported to, or detected by police over the same period. The victimisation rate increased slightly from 30 to 31 victims of FDV–related Sexual assault per 100,000 persons between 2014 and 2015. (Table 1)



Nationally, there were five times as many female victims (6,291 victims) of FDV–related Sexual assault as male victims (1,148 victims) in 2015. (Table 1)



Around two thirds of male victims (64%) were aged between 0 and 14 years (740 victims), the majority of which (44%) were aged between 0 and 9 years (503 victims). (Table 4)



Female victims were most likely to have been aged between 10 and 19 years (2,690 victims, or 43%). Across all the selected jurisdictions (for which relationship data were available5), Sexual assault victimisation was most likely to have occurred within an ‘Other family member’ relationship. This includes, but is not limited to: parents, children, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. (Table 4)







More than four out of five victims (85%) of FDV–related Sexual assault experienced victimisation at a residential location (6,372 victims).



In almost all FDV–related Sexual assaults, a weapon was not used (95% or 7,066 victims). (Table 4)



Kidnapping and abduction



There were 139 victims of FDV–related Kidnapping and abduction recorded nationally in 2015. This accounted for over a quarter (27%) of all victims of Kidnapping and abduction reported to, or detected by police over the same period. This chapter presents experimental data about victims of selected Family and Domestic Violence (FDV) –related offences. Victims of selected offences have been determined to be FDV–related where the relationship of offender to victim, as stored on police recording systems, falls within a specified family or domestic relationshipor where an FDV flag has been recorded, following a police investigationUsers should be aware that data about victims of FDV–related offences may be reflective of changes in reporting behaviour or police detection. As a result, caution should be exercised when interpreting these results, or making comparisons across the states and territories.The data referred to in this chapter are drawn from the data cube: Experimental Data – Victims of Family and Domestic Violence. (Tables 1–6)In 2015, there were 158 victims of FDV –related Homicide in Australia, which accounted for over a third (38%) of total Homicide victims recorded by police nationally. The victimisation rate remained stable at 7 victims per 1 million persons, compared to 2014. (Table 2)Females accounted for almost two thirds (65%) of all victims of FDV–related Homicide in Australia in 2015 (103 victims). (Table 2)Around a third (35%) of FDV–related Homicides did not involve the use of a weapon (55 victims), while over a quarter (27%) involved the use of a knife (43 victims), and less than one in ten (8%) involved the use of a firearm (12 victims). (Table 2)In 2015, across the selected states and territoriesthere were:In 2015, females were more likely than males to be victims of FDV –related Assault across all the selected states and territories as follows:Across the selected states and territories, victims of FDV– related Assault were most likely to have been aged between 25 and 34 years, with this age group comprising:Despite a higher representation of female victims of FDV–related Assault across most age groups in 2015, males accounted for a higher number of victims aged between 0 and 9 years, across all the selected states and territories, with the exception of Tasmania. (Table 3)There were 7,464 victims of FDV–related Sexual assault recorded nationally in 2015. This accounts for over a third (35%) of all victims of Sexual assault that were reported to, or detected by police over the same period. The victimisation rate increased slightly from 30 to 31 victims of FDV–related Sexual assault per 100,000 persons between 2014 and 2015. (Table 1)Nationally, there were five times as many female victims (6,291 victims) of FDV–related Sexual assault as male victims (1,148 victims) in 2015. (Table 1)Around two thirds of male victims (64%) were aged between 0 and 14 years (740 victims), the majority of which (44%) were aged between 0 and 9 years (503 victims). (Table 4)Female victims were most likely to have been aged between 10 and 19 years (2,690 victims, or 43%). Across all the selected jurisdictions (for which relationship data were available), Sexual assault victimisation was most likely to have occurred within an ‘Other family member’ relationship. This includes, but is not limited to: parents, children, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. (Table 4)More than four out of five victims (85%) of FDV–related Sexual assault experienced victimisation at a residential location (6,372 victims).In almost all FDV–related Sexual assaults, a weapon was not used (95% or 7,066 victims). (Table 4)There were 139 victims of FDV–related Kidnapping and abduction recorded nationally in 2015. This accounted for over a quarter (27%) of all victims of Kidnapping and abduction reported to, or detected by police over the same period. Females comprised nine out of ten (91%) victims of FDV–related Kidnapping and abduction (126). (Table 1)



More than half (55%) of all victims of FDV–related Kidnapping and abduction were aged between 20 and 34 years (76 victims). (Table 5)



Footnotes FDV – related offences refer to selected personal offences only (see Explanatory Notes paragraph 40). For the purposes of this release, a specified family or domestic relationship includes Partner, Ex-partner, Parent or ‘Other family member’. See Explanatory Notes paragraph 40. Victims that have been determined to be FDV related based on the police FDV flag may include victims with a relationship of offender to victim that has been classified to ‘Other non-family member’ (includes carer or kinship relationships); or where relationship information was not stated, or not available. Within the Recorded Crime – Victims publication, nationally comparable data about victims of Assault are currently unavailable, as data are not published for Victoria and Queensland (See Explanatory Notes paragraphs 86–87). As a result, information about victims of FDV – related Assault are only presented for New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory. Within the Recorded Crime – Victims publication, relationship of offender to victim data are not currently available for Western Australia. As such, relationship of offender to victim information is presented for selected states and territories only. See Explanatory Notes paragraph 28.



