Number of sexual assault victims in Australia reaches eight-year high

The number of Sexual assault victims in 2017 increased 8 per cent across Australia from 2016.

A demonstrator wears a red glove as a symbol against sexual assault outside the palace of justice

Source: AAP

The number of Sexual assault victims recorded by police in Australia increased from 23,040 in 2016 to 24,957 in 2017, ABS data revealed.

The victims of crime data, released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, shows an 8 per cent increase in sexual assault victims nationally and it is the sixth consecutive year the number of Sexual assault victims has increased.

"This is the sixth consecutive annual increase in the number of victims recorded for this offence and the highest number recorded since the time series began in 2010," ABS Director of Crime and Justice Statistics William Milne said.

Victoria recorded highest increase in the number of sexual assault victims, up by 13 per cent or 670 victims to 6,024 in 2017.

But, the number of Sexual assault victims is at high in NSW. During 2017, 9847 victims went to police across NSW - a rise from last year's 8795.

There was a decrease of 12 per cent in Western Australia, 10 per cent in Tasmania and nine per cent in ACT.

Women make up 82 per cent of recorded sexual assault victims, while victims of family and domestic violence-related sexual assault recorded 34 per cent of all victims of sexual assault recorded nationally over the same period.

The number of victims linked to most other offences fell over the same period, with homicide showing a 10 per cent decrease to 414 victims since 2010.

The number of victims of robbery declined 34 per cent and victims of burglaries also fell by 15 per cent since 2010.


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By Justin Sungil Park




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