COVID-19 restrictions help plunge Australia's crime numbers to 12-year low

Coronavirus restrictions in Australia helped plunge the country's crime numbers to a 12-year low, new research has found.

Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics found the number of offenders charged by local police in 2019-20 was 374,645, a decrease of five per cent from the previous year.

"This was largely due to a decline in public order offences such as public drunkenness and disorderly behavior in a public place, which feel by 12,608 orders or 24 per cent," Mr Milne said.

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"Public order offenders have declined since 2013-14, with the latest decrease coinciding with restrictions put in place to slow the spread of COVID-19."

However, despite the drop in public order offences, there was a 22 per cent jump in miscellaneous offences across the country due to fines being issued for COVID-19 related offences.

"There were 10,045 offenders proceeded against for at least one COVID-19 related offence during 2019-20," the report found.

"More than half of these offenders (54 per cent) were proceeded against in Victoria (5457 offenders)."

Queensland was next with 1949 COVID-19 related offenders; then New South Wales with 1373 and South Australia with 719.

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Tasmania recorded 245 COVID-19 related offenders, while Western Australia reported 219 and the Northern Territory recorded just 87.

There were no COVID-19 related offenders in the Australian Capital Territory during the ABS reporting period.

The report found about two in five offenders with COVID-19 related offences were aged between 20 and 29.

"Males accounted for the majority of offenders across all of the selected states and territories, ranging from 58 per cent in the Northern Territory to 77 per cent in New South Wales," the report said.

Since March 2020, states across Australia have implemented a variety of restrictions such as, but not limited to, the temporary closure of pubs, bars and clubs; limits on private gatherings, including weddings and funerals, were also introduced; and household gatherings.

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