Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research

Is juvenile crime increasing?

 

Long Term

The recorded number of juvenile offenders proceeded against by the NSW Police Force for violent* and property** offences was stable over the five years ending December 2018.

 

Short Term  

The recorded number of juvenile offenders proceeded against by the NSW Police Force for violent* offences was stable between January 2017 and December 2018. Over the same time, the number of juvenile offenders proceeded against for property** offences fell by 7.6 percent.


Note: Proceeded against includes proceeded against to court by way of Court Attendance Notice or proceeded against other than to court by way of Youth Justice Conference, Caution Young Offenders Act, Cannabis Caution, Other Drug Caution, Warning, Criminal Infringement Notice, or Infringement Notice.

* Includes murder, assault, sexual offences and robbery.
** Includes burglary, stealing, and fraud.

More information, refer to:


Table: Persons of interest proceeded against by NSW Police Force by offence type and age: Numbers and Trends

Over the five years from January 2014 to December 2018 the number of juveniles aged 10 to 17 years proceeded against in some way by NSW Police fell for two major categories, rose for two and remained stable for eleven categories. No trend test could be performed for two offence categories (murder and robbery with a firearm) as the counts were too small.

 

OffenceTrend & annual percentage change over 24 months from Jan 2017 to Dec 2018Trend & average annual percentage change over 60 months from Jan 2014 to Dec 2018
Murderncnc
DV related assaultStableStable
Non DV related assaultStableStable
Sexual assaultStableStable
Indecent assault, act of indecency and other sexual offencesStableStable
Robbery without a weaponStableStable
Robbery with a firearmncnc
Robbery with a weapon not a firearmStableStable
Break and enter dwelling-10.1%-6.1%
Break and enter non-dwellingStableStable
Motor vehicle theftStableStable
Steal from motor vehicle-20.2%Stable
Steal from retail storeStable2.7%
Steal from dwelling-17.9%Stable
Steal from personStableStable
FraudStable7.7%
Malicious damage to propertyStable-5.3%