Terrorism-related charges are uncommon in NSW Criminal Courts
Release date: 10.30am Thursday, 4 February 2021
Link to report summary
Terrorism-related
charges are relatively uncommon in NSW Criminal Courts according to a
report released today by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research
(BOCSAR).
From July
2002 to May 2020, 72 terrorism offences were proven in NSW criminal courts,
involving a total of 48 offenders. The most common offence categories were terrorism
planning offences (39%), breaches of control and supervision orders (21%), offences
relating to the collection, manufacture or possession of terrorism items (18%) and
terrorism financing offences (7%). The majority of these offences relate to
legislation that has enabled proactive policing and prevention of
terrorism-related activities, with most terrorism offences occuring after the
Federal Government raised the National Terrorism Threat Advisory System threat
level from “Possible” to “Probable” in 2014.
Almost all
offenders convicted of terrorism offences received a prison sentence (94%), with
a smaller proportion receiving a community-based order (i.e. community
correction order with supervision, intensive correction order, or bond without
supervision).
Terrorism
offenders are broadly
similar to each other in terms of their observed demographic characteristics. Most terrorism offenders are: non-Aboriginal, male, aged between 18 and 30
years, from an area of socioeconomic disadvantage and reside in a major city. Over half of all terrorism offenders had at
least one prior court appearance with a proven conviction, and one quarter had
previously received a prison penalty.
Slightly less than half had only ever come into contact with the
criminal justice system for terrorism offences, while the rest had experience
with other crime types.
Further enquiries: Jackie Fitzgerald, Executive Director 0423 139 687
Email: bcsr@justice.nsw.gov.au
Copies of the report: www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au