According to Western Australia Police Force (WAPOL), Western Australia crime rate for the year ending December 2022 was 9478 incidents per 100,000 population. This represents a 3% increase from the previous year.
Western Australia State Safety Rank
7
(1 is safest)
Western Australia holds the 7th rank in safety metrics among all Australia states
Western Australia Crime Map
Has crime in Western Australia increased or decreased in the past 5 years? The chart below shows the 60-month historical trend of the number of offences that occurred in Western Australia.
- The number of criminal incidents recorded by Western Australia Police Force in the year 2022 was 252125, up 3% from 244718 incidents recorded in the same period last year.
- When considering our safety metrics across all Australian states, Western Australia has been found to rank seventh. This indicates that there are six other states in Australia that have better safety metrics than Western Australia. So, it suggests that Western Australia’s safety metrics are not relatively strong compared to the other states in the country.
- Common crime: stealing.
- Top areas to avoid: Northbridge (WA).
- The number of assault offences recorded in 2022 increased by 7% (2579 Incidents) compared to the previous year..
- The number of sexual offences recorded in 2022 decreased by 14% (1025 Incidents) compared to the previous year.
- The number of homicide offences recorded in 2022 decreased by 2% (2 Incidents) compared to the previous year.
- The number of burglary offences recorded in 2022 decreased by 2% (357 Incidents) compared to the previous year.
- The number of stealing offences recorded in 2022 increased by 9% (5931 Incidents) compared to the previous year.
- The number of robbery offences recorded in 2022 increased b 12% (167 Incidents) compared to the previous year.
- The number of motor vehicle thefts recorded in 2022 increased by 3% (188 Incidents) compared to the previous year.
- The number of property damage offences recorded in 2022 decreased by 3% (758 Incidents) compared to the previous year.
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Crime in Western Australia: An In-Depth Analysis
In the 2021–22 period, the number of individuals pursued by law enforcement in Western Australia totaled 34,579, marking a 3% reduction from the prior year. This figure represents the smallest count since the commencement of consistent record-keeping in 2008–09.
Additionally, there was a decline in the rate of offenders from 1,526 per 100,000 people in 2020–21 to 1,434 per 100,000 in 2021–22, continuing a downward trend for the fifth year in a row.
In Western Australia, a little over 22% of the offenders, accounting for 7,440 individuals, were primarily charged with offences aimed at causing harm.
The count of individuals whose main offence was related to illicit drugs fell by 19% from the preceding year, with 5,844 offenders recorded in 2021–22.
There was a notable 33% rise in the number of offenders charged with miscellaneous crimes, totaling 1,369, this uptick was largely attributed to an escalation in offences connected to COVID-19.
Males made up the majority of offenders, comprising 72% of the total, which equates to 24,960 individuals. The incidence of offending among males was markedly higher, with the male offender rate standing at 2,075 for every 100,000 males, a stark contrast to the female rate, which was 781 per 100,000 females, indicating that men were almost three times as likely to be offenders as women.
During the 2021–22 period in Western Australia, police actions were taken against 6,037 young individuals aged 10 to 17 years, indicating a 6% rise from the previous year, with an additional 359 offenders. This uptick stands in contrast to the overall reduction of offenders across the state.
There was also a slight increase in the youth offender rate, climbing from 2,137 per 100,000 youths in the 10 to 17 age bracket in 2020–21 to 2,160 in 2021–22. Notably, this rate surpasses the general offender rate in Western Australia, which was 1,438 per 100,000 individuals.
Acts intended to cause injury were the leading type of principal offence among these young offenders, constituting 21% of their crimes, or 1,263 individuals. Theft offenses followed, accounting for 1,096 young offenders. When compared to the overall population of offenders in Western Australia, young individuals had a higher rate of principal offences related to theft and similar crimes, with 392 per 100,000 youths versus 162 per 100,000 in the general offender population.
Western Australia Crime Rates by Offences Division
| Division | Number of Crimes | Crime Rate (Per 100,000 Residents) |
|---|---|---|
| Offences against the person | 57407 | 2158 |
| Offences against Property | 128265 | 4822 |
| Other Offences | 234654 | 2498 |
| Total | 252125 | 9478 |
Western Australia Crimes Against the Person
These are violent crimes against people whether these are family violence or non-family violence. Basically, if someone does something to hurt or scare another person, it’s considered a crime against the person. This includes:
- Assault and related offences: There are different types of assault, like serious assault, which is when someone causes severe injuries as a result of a physical attack, and assault on police, emergency services, or other authorised officers, which is when someone attacks a cop or a paramedic or someone doing their job. There’s also common assault, which is like when someone threatens to punch you or makes you feel scared for your safety.
- Robbery: There are two types of robbery or mugging: aggravated and non-aggravated. Aggravated robbery is when someone uses a weapon like a knife or a firearm (armed robbery) or causes serious harm to the victim during the robbery, like hitting them with a bat or a gun. Non-aggravated robbery is when someone doesn’t use a weapon or cause serious harm during the robbery but still uses force or the threat of force to take something from the victim.
- Deprivation of Liberty: This offence typically involves unlawfully detaining or confining another person against their will. The essence of this offence is the intentional restriction of a person’s freedom of movement without lawful excuse or their consent.
- Threatening behaviour: This represents harassing or threatening someone based on their race, skin colour, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or disability, in what’s known as hate crimes. It also includes insulting someone, cyberbullying, and cyberstalking.
My Chances of Becoming a Victim of a Crime Against the Person
1 in 45
In Western Australia
1 in 73
In Australia
Crimes Against the Person Comparison (Per 100,000 Residents)
Breakdown of Against the person offences in Western Australia
Western Australia population: 2660026
| Crimes | WA Total Criminal Incidents | WA Crime Rate (per 100,000 residents) |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 85 | 3 |
| Assault | 40758 | 1532 |
| Sexual offences | 6342 | 238 |
| Robbery | 1507 | 57 |
| Deprivation of Liberty | 252 | 9 |
| Threatening Behaviour | 8463 | 318 |
Western Australia Against Property offences
These are crimes related to stealing or damaging property or deceiving someone for personal gain. Property crimes include:
- Stealing: It can be committed in various forms such as shoplifting, stealing from a person’s home, or taking a vehicle without permission. Other examples include stealing a bicycle, snatching a purse, or taking items from an unattended bag.
- Burglary (unlawful entry): Aggravated and non-aggravated burglaries are examples of burglary. Aggravated burglary involves the use of weapons, threats, or violence during the break-in, while non-aggravated burglary does not involve such factors.
- Arson: Arson is a criminal act of intentionally setting fire to a property, building, or forest (bushfire) without lawful or justifiable reason.
- Property damage: This refers to intentional or accidental harm caused to someone else’s property, such as vandalism, or graffiti.
My Chances of Becoming a Victim of Against Property offences
1 in 20
In Western Australia
1 in 25
In Australia
Crimes Against Property Comparison (Per 100,000 Residens)
Breakdown of Against Property offences in Western Australia
Western Australia population: 2660026
| Crimes | WA Total Criminal Incidents | WA Crime Rate (per 100,000 residents) |
|---|---|---|
| Stealing | 72011 | 2707 |
| Stealing of Motor Vehicles | 6391 | 240 |
| Burglary/Break and enter | 22051 | 829 |
| Arson | 956 | 36 |
| Property Damage | 26856 | 1010 |
Other Offences
The category of other offences encompasses a range of unlawful activities such as drug-related violations, graffiti vandalism, various forms of fraud and related deceptive practices, as well as contraventions of Violence Restraining Orders. These offences, while distinct in nature, all fall under the broader umbrella of criminal activities that are subject to legal penalties.
Breakdown of Other Offences in Western Australia
| Crimes | WA Total Criminal Incidents | WA Crime Rate (per 100,000 residents) |
|---|---|---|
| Drug Offences | 20651 | 776 |
| Graffiti | 2017 | 76 |
| Fraud & Related Offences | 31229 | 1174 |
| Breach of Violence Restraint Order | 12556 | 472 |
Western Australia Crimes per Square KM
How many murders in Western Australia in 2022?
According to Western Australia Police Force (WAPOL), there were 85 homicides in Western Australia in 2022. It’s important to note that this figure includes all homicides, not just murders.
What’s the most common crime in Western Australia?
According to the latest available data from Western Australia Police Force (WAPOL), the most common type of crime in Western Australia is stealing.
What is the crime rate in Western Australia?
The overall crime rate in Western Australia, as measured by the number of reported offences per 100,000 population was 9478 in the year ending December 2022.
However, it’s important to note that this is an aggregate figure that includes all types of crime, and some types of offences are more prevalent than others. Additionally, crime rates can vary by location, with some areas experiencing higher rates of certain types of crime than others.
Is Western Australia a safe place to live in?
Western Australia ranks seventh in overall safety among Australian states. According to the Western Australia Police Force, Western Australia’s total crime rate in 2022 was 9478. So, while Western Australia may not be the safest state in Australia according to these rankings, it still maintains a relatively low crime rate compared to global averages, indicating that it is generally a safe place to live.
What suburb has the highest crime rate in Western Australia?
Northbridge (WA) is the suburb with the highest rate of reported criminal incidents in Western Australia with a rate of 399859 incidents per 100,000 population, according to BOCSAR 2022 data. Northbridge (WA) is safer than only 2% of Western Australia suburbs.
What is the safest suburb in Western Australia?
Lake Coogee is the safest suburb in Western Australia with a rate of 2092 incidents per 100,000 population as per the BOCSAR report. Lake Coogee is safer than 97% of Western Australia suburbs.
However, it’s important to note that low crime rates do not necessarily guarantee safety, and that crime can occur anywhere. Hence, it’s essential always to stay vigilant and take appropriate safety measures.
Note: This article doesn’t have detailed data for family violence, victims, female offenders, reoffending, stalking, and youth crime. For more information about these topics, check our resources page.
References
- Western Australia Police Force (WAPOL)
- Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Census QuickStats for all persons
Popular Suburbs in Western Australia
Popular Urban Areas in Western Australia
Greater Capital City Statistical Area