Citation

Johnson H. Trends Iss. Crime Crim. Justice 2005; 298.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, Australian Institute of Criminology)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Crime victimisation surveys have emerged over the past few decades as an important research tool to help provide a picture of crime that is independent of police statistics. In 2004 the Australian Institute of Criminology managed the Australian component of the International Crime Victim Survey (ICVS) which interviewed 7,000 people about their experience and perceptions of crime and the criminal justice system. Five cycles of the ICVS have been conducted - 1989, 1992, 1996, 2000 and 2004 - and Australia participated in all but the 1996 cycle. This report summarises the key results of the Australian component of the 2004 ICVS, noting that both recent rates of crime victimisation and fear levels have declined since the last survey in 2000. The paper also includes important information on risk factors associated with victimisation, unreported crime and fear of crime that can inform future crime prevention and reduction activities across Australia.