Seven ‘types’ of family violence perpetrators in Victoria revealed in CSA research

11 December 2020

Seven distinct ‘types’ of family violence perpetrators can be identified using police records, research released today by the Crime Statistics Agency shows. 

Among the groups identified were four groups who perpetrated violence against their intimate partner and three groups who perpetrated violence against another type of family member (not against an intimate partner).

Crime Statistics Agency Chief Statistician Fiona Dowsley said the study found there were notable differences between groups in terms of their demographic characteristics, risk factors identified by police, frequency of family violence perpetration and other offending behaviour.

“Our research identified two groups of prolific family violence perpetrators, with these perpetrators the most likely to also perpetrate violence against non-family members, the most likely to be substance affected at the time of the incident, and the most likely to be unemployed,” Ms Dowsley said.

Overall, the research found that 74% of recorded family violence perpetrators were male, with an average age of 35.5 years, and five per cent were Aboriginal.

Perpetrators were over-represented in regional areas of Victoria, with 23% of perpetrators living in regional areas compared to 15% of the population of Victoria.

In terms of where perpetrators resided, the most disadvantaged areas of Victoria were also substantially over-represented, with 50% of perpetrators living in the 30% most disadvantaged areas of the state.

Half (51%) of perpetrators had been recorded for at least one other family violence incident in the previous 12 years.

Background

The paper Finding typologies of family violence perpetrators using police records was released today. The study includes all family violence perpetrators who were recorded by police as perpetrating at least one incident between 1 July 2016 and 30 June 2017.

For further information please contact:

Melanie Millsteed – Assistant Director, Research & Analytics
Phone: (03) 8684 1828   Email: melanie.millsteed@crimestatistics.vic.gov.au (External link)