Northern Territory offender rates lead Australia by more than double, 2023-24 ABS data shows

The Northern Territory continues to be a hotspot for crime in Australia, with offender rates more than double of any other jurisdiction.

The Northern Territory continues to stand as the epicentre of crime in Australia, with offender rates more than double those of any other jurisdiction. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

The Northern Territory continues to stand as the epicentre of crime in Australia, with offender rates more than double those of any other jurisdiction, according to the latest data.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics data, released on March 6, the offender rate in the NT was 3954 offenders per 100,000, aged 10 years and older in the 2023-24 financial year.

This marked the Territory’s offender rates as the worst in the country.

By comparison, the second highest rate during the 2023-24 period was Queensland, which had 1645 offenders per 100,000, a whopping 2309 less than the Territory.

Thousand of protestors at Parliament House for Darwin's third rally against crime in 2023. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

In 2023-24, NT Police proceeded against 8692 distinct offenders, each subject to legal action or charges.

The figure shows a downward trajectory since the 2018-19 period, when there were 10,871 offenders proceeded against.

Overall there were 11,632 proceedings – referring to the total number of legal actions or cases, which could involve multiple proceedings against a single offender – initiated by NT Police during that financial year.

According to the data, the most common principal offences in the NT were acts intended to cause injury, which saw 2709 offenders (31 per cent), and public order offences, which saw 2454 offenders (28 per cent).

It also showed that 6174 offenders (71 per cent) of offenders in the NT during this period were male, with the male offender rate more than double the females’.

This trend was consistent in all jurisdictions.

Thousand of protestors at Parliament House for Darwin’s third rally against crime in 2023. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

There were 787 offenders aged between 10 and 17 years in the NT in 2023–24, with youth offenders comprising 9 per cent of total offenders proceeded against.

Youth offenders in the NT were typically proceeded against police at least twice.

The most common principal offences for youth offenders were acts intended to cause injury with 189 offenders (24 per cent) and unlawful entry with intent with 148 offenders (19 per cent).

There were 3041 offenders proceeded against for a family or domestic violence related offence in the NT.

There were 4725 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander offenders proceeded against by NT Police in 2023–24, an improvement of 1059 compared to the year prior.

The data also showed the offender rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders was 7,353 offenders per 100,000 aged 10 years and older.

About 2352 (50 per cent) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander offenders had a principal offence of acts intended to cause injury.

Originally published as Northern Territory offender rates lead Australia by more than double, 2023-24 ABS data shows