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Abstract
This paper discusses concerns surrounding violent crime in society. It compares statistics about violent crimes such as Burglary, homicide, kidnapping/abduction, and Assault/sexual assault in comparison with each other reflecting the low rate of victimization; Followed by a comparison of these statistics with the victimization rates of property crime and concluding that violent crime be less of a concern whereas property crime is more likely to occur.
Violent Crime Can Be A Source Of Concern But Is It The Most Frequent Occurring Type Of Crime In Society?
Violent crime can indeed be a constant concern for society as it is the most frequently reported crime in the news; however, is it really the most frequent occurring crime in society? A majority of acts that fall under the violent crime category are in fact not as frequently occurring as many have been led to believe. Some may think that violent crime was indeed more frequent and could happen at any time based on what friends and family members constantly say such as ‘dont travel late at night’ or ‘lock your doors at night’.
Once one begins going through statistics, reading text books on the subject matter, and delving into research papers that the majority of what you have been told to be concerned about in regards to violent crimes is something anyone needn’t worry about to such an extent as the most frequently committed crimes are revolving around property crimes.
The acts that fall under violent crimes differ from place to place, violent crime may include: Harassment, abduction (kidnapping), rape, negligence, robbery, sexual assault, assault, and homicide. The crime rates in Australia are in a constant state of fluctuation. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the rate for victims of burglary decreased by 5% across Australia in the last few years, has been in decline for the past 7 years, and has reached an all-time low at 0.039%; where as the number of sexual assault victims continues to increase, the rate rose by 2% and is currently sitting at 0.101% of the population having been victimized by this type of horrible crime in recent years. The numbers for victimization in homicide and kidnapping were stagnant with no increases in recent findings and were both less than 0.002% and the lowest percentage out of all the violent crimes (Australian Bureau of statistics 2019). When it came to physical assaults across the different age groups the results varied with people aged between 15-24 years old having a victimisation rate of 3.7% and those over the age of 65 years old being at a much lower rate of 0.5%(Australia Bureau of Statistics 2018). Physical assault had the highest numbers for victimisation in relation to violent crimes, with physical assault for unmarried persons at 3.6% and unemployed persons at 4.3%, the chances of victimisation varied depending on age and lifestyle circumstances.
Based on these numbers the trends seem to be very low and on a downwards trend for Theft, Unlawful entry and Motor vehicle theft (Australian Institute of crime 2017). The chances of being victimised in one of these situations is somewhat low but also depends on the other factors that needs to be taken into consideration when discussing lifestyle and if falling victim to these crimes was age, sex, location and personal circumstances; such as marriage status and employment status. For instance, Males were more likely to fall victim to Homicide and physical Assault whereas women were more likely to fall victim to sexual assault. With physical assault for unmarried persons at 3.6% and unemployed persons at 4.3%(Australian Bureau of Statistics 2018).
Not amongst these numbers are of course the dark figures of crime which go undetected or unreported for many reasons, one being due to jurisdictional fragmentation; However, with these results we can see that these crimes are not the most frequently carried out offences.
Property crime made up ‘approximately 80%'(Australian Bureau of statistics 2012 as cited by Hayes and Prenzler) when compared against other types of crime. In the following 5 years the trends have followed suit, Of that approximate 80% there were 3 categories that fell under this umbrella; Other theft(i.e. shop lifting, pick pocketing, bag snatching and bicycle theft) was the highest for of property crime, Unlawful entry with intent came in second and Motor vehicle theft was the lowest of property crimes committed between 2010 and 2017(Australian Bureau of statistics 2019)
When reviewing offenders by principle offence, theft was the second highest offence next to illicit drug offences (Australian Bureau of statistics 2018). In recent times despite the high volumes of property crime there have been minor decreases according to the Australian Bureau of statistics which is a positive finding.
Violent crimes may be a concern in peoples minds but when reviewing the numbers and researching the matter, it is clear that theft should be more so at the for front of peoples minds. People within our society are more likely to become victim to some form of property crime rather than a violent crime. In other words, one would be more likely to have their bicycle stolen from their front yard rather than be physically assaulted at a pub.
References
- Australian Institute of Criminology (2016). Victims of Crime | Crime Statistics Australia. [online] Aic.gov.au. Available at: https://www.crimestats.aic.gov.au/facts_figures/1_victims/.
- Australian Institute of Criminology (2010). Victims of violent crime | Crime Statistics Australia. [online] Aic.gov.au. Available at: https://www.crimestats.aic.gov.au/facts_figures/1_victims/A1/.
- Australian institute of Criminology (2018). OFFENDERS BY PRINCIPAL OFFENCE. [online] https://www.aic.gov.au/. Available at: https://www.crimestats.aic.gov.au/facts_figures/2_offenders/A3/ [Accessed 20 Oct. 2019].
- Abs.gov.au. (2018). Physical assault. [online] Available at: https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/by%20Subject/4530.0~2016-17~Main%20Features~Physical%20assault%20~10000
- Hayes and Prenzler, (2014). An Introduction to Crime and Criminology. 4th edition ed. Melbourne, Vic: Pearson Australia. pp.66
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