Crime Statistics Agency releases 2016-17 Victorian Family Violence Database

6 December 2017

MEDIA RELEASE

Embargo: 9:00AM Wednesday 6 December 2017

The Crime Statistics Agency has today released key family violence measures from the 2016-17 Victorian Family Violence Database.

The Database includes data for the period between 1 July 2012 and 30 June 2017 from across a range of Victorian government agencies. Data included relates to:

Family incidents recorded by police
Family violence intervention orders
Emergency department presentations
Family violence services for women and children
Men’s behaviour change programs
Legal services provided by Victoria Legal Aid

Key findings:

The number of family incidents recorded by Victoria Police decreased by 1.9% from 78,006 in 2015-16 to 76,500 in 2016-17. Similarly, the number of new family violence order applications finalised in the Magistrates’ Court and Children’s Court decreased by 0.1% and 3.9% respectively.

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

‘In the last 12 months there has been a 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.”

“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 stated that the Crime Statistics Agency should ’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 2016-17 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)

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