Crime Statistics Agency releases 2017-18 Victorian Family Violence Database

5 December 2018

MEDIA RELEASE
9:00AM Wednesday 5 December 2018

Crime Statistics Agency releases 2017-18 Victorian Family Violence Database

The Crime Statistics Agency has today released key family violence measures from the 2017-18 Victorian Family Violence Database.

The Database includes data for the period between 1 July 2013 and 30 June 2018 from across a range of Victorian government agencies. Similar to previous releases, the data included relates to:

• Family incidents recorded by police
• Emergency department presentations
• Family violence services for women and children
• Family violence services for male perpetrators 
• Legal services provided by Victoria Legal Aid
• Family violence intervention orders

In addition, the 2017-18 Family Violence Database includes data relating to family violence homicides recorded by the Coroners Court of Victoria and family violence events attended to by Ambulance Victoria.

Key findings:

The number of family incidents recorded by Victoria Police decreased by 0.5% from 76,494 in 2016-17 to 76,124 in 2017-18, and a decrease in the rate per 100,000 population of 2.7%. Similarly, the number of new family violence order applications finalised in the Magistrates’ Court and Children’s Court decreased by 2.8% and 6.1% respectively.

There was an increase of 11.5% in the number of services provided by Victoria Legal Aid for family violence intervention order applications.

Crime Statistics Agency Chief Statistician Fiona Dowsley said that the justice sector has continued to see a decline in the number of family incidents and new family violence intervention orders.

‘In the last 12 months there has been a small decline in family incidents recorded by Victoria Police and new applications finalised in the Magistrates’ and Children’s Court.’ Ms Dowsley said. “However, increasing service to family violence clients was reported by Victoria Legal Aid.”

“Ongoing changes in recording and reporting practices across the health and services sector means we do not see a definitive trend across all agencies. Over time, however, system reforms are anticipated to provide more robust family violence data in Victoria.”

The ongoing maintenance and development of the Database continues to address recommendation 205 made by the Royal Commission into Family Violence in March 2016.
Recommendation 205 gave responsibility to the Crime Statistics Agency to ’maintain and develop the Victorian Family Violence Database and consider what additional data sets should be incorporated in the database, how links between all relevant datasets can be created, and how the database can otherwise be developed [within 18 months]’.

Further information about the 2017-18 Victorian Family Violence Database can be found on the CSA website:
http://www.crimestatistics.vic.gov.au/family-violence-data-portal (External link)

For further information please contact: Crime Statistics Agency Phone: 8684 1808 Email: info@crimestatistics.vic.gov.au (External link)