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Report on Government Services 2016

Chapter 6, Volume C

Police services

The Police services chapter reports on the operations of the police agencies of each State and Territory government, including the ACT community policing function performed by the Australian Federal Police.

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  • Key Facts
  • Indicator Framework
  • Indicator Results
  • Indigenous Data

This chapter reports on the operations of the police agencies of each State and Territory government, including the ACT community policing function performed by the Australian Federal Police.

  • Recurrent expenditure on community policing services across Australia was approximately $10.2 billion (or $430 per person) in 2014-15.
  • Police agencies employed 69 282 staff in 2014-15.
  • Information is included on community safety, crime, road safety and judicial services. For example, data are reported on public perceptions of safety and public perceptions of particular crimes as a problem, recorded victims of crime, road safety, as well as lower court defendants resulting in a guilty plea or finding.

The objectives of police services are to:

  • allow people to undertake their lawful pursuits confidently and safely
  • bring to justice those people responsible for committing an offence
  • promote safer behaviour on roads
  • support the judicial process to achieve efficient and effective court case management and judicial processing, providing safe custody for alleged offenders, and ensuring fair and equitable treatment of both victims and alleged offenders
  • responding, co-ordinating or contributing to emergency management.

The performance indicator framework provides information on equity, efficiency and effectiveness, and distinguishes the outputs and outcomes of police services. The performance indicator framework shows which data are complete and comparable in the 2016 Report.

Indicator Framework

An overview of the Police services performance indicator results are presented. Information to assist the interpretation of these data can be found in the indicator interpretation boxes in the Police services chapter and attachment tables.

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Equity — Access indicators

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staffing

Proportion of all police staff who self-identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, 2014-15

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete, subject to caveats (chapter 6)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 2.5 0.3 2.3 1.4 1.2 1.5 1.5 7.4 ..
Source: Attachment table 6A.17

Staffing by gender

Proportion of all police staff who are female, 2014-15

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete, subject to caveats (chapter 6)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 32.9 30.7 33.9 29.6 30.9 35.8 32.3 36.2 32.1
Source: Attachment table 6A.18

Effectiveness indicators

Complaints

The number of complaints made by members of the public against police, per 100 000 people in the total population, 2014-15

Most recent data for this measure are not comparable but are complete, subject to caveats (chapter 6)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
No. 45 20 23 42 69 20 41 156 ..
Source: Attachment table 6A.16

Juvenile diversions

The number of juveniles who are diverted by police (rather than taken to court), as a proportion of all juvenile offenders formally dealt with by police, 2014-15

Most recent data for this measure are neither comparable nor complete (chapter 6)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% na 22 37 46 46 61 39 37 ..
Source: Attachment table 6A.39

Satisfaction with police services

Proportion of people satisfied or very satisfied with services provided by police, 2014-15

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete (chapter 6)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 77.6 77.8 78.6 74.1 78.2 76.7 77.4 72.4 77.5
Source: Attachment table 6A.12

Perceptions of police integrity

Proportion of people who agree or strongly agree that 'police perform job professionally', 2014-15

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete (chapter 6)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 90.1 88.7 87.7 87.0 87.2 90.2 89.8 82.3 88.7
Source: Attachment table 6A.13

Proportion of people who agree or strongly agree that 'police treat people fairly and equally', 2014-15

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete (chapter 6)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 79.7 77.5 76.5 75.7 75.8 81.5 76.0 71.2 77.7
Source: Attachment table 6A.14

Proportion of people who agree or strongly agree that 'police are honest', 2014-15

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete (chapter 6)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 75.2 75.9 76.5 76.8 74.4 79.8 79.0 76.6 75.9
Source: Attachment table 6A.15

Perceptions of crime problems

Proportion of people who perceive illegal drugs to be 'somewhat of a problem' or a 'major problem' in the neighbourhood, 2014-15

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete, subject to caveats (chapter 6)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
Illegal drugs (%) 42.1 42.7 31.7 36.7 33.1 35.9 30.4 43.5 38.6
Source: Attachment table 6A.22

Proportion of people who perceive speeding cars or dangerous or noisy driving to be 'somewhat of a problem' or a 'major problem' in the neighbourhood, 2014-15

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete, subject to caveats (chapter 6)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
Speeding cars, dangerous or noisy driving (%) 62.4 59.6 59.1 65.0 58.8 59.6 59.1 55.8 60.9
Source: Attachment table 6A.23

Efficiency (output) indicators

Dollars per person

Expenditure on policing per person, 2014-15

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete, subject to caveats (chapter 6)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
$ 444 417 354 501 424 400 432 1150 430
Source: Attachment table 6A.10

Proportion of prosecutions where costs were awarded against police

Percentage of prosecutions where costs were awarded against the police, 2014-15

Most recent data for this measure are not comparable but are complete (subject to caveats) (chapter 6)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 0.15 0.11 0.01 1.07 1.20 0.02 1.50 0.28 ..
Source: Attachment table 6A.41

Effectiveness (outcome) indicators

Perceptions of safety

Proportion of people who felt 'safe' or 'very safe' at home during the night, 2014-15

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete (chapter 6)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 88.4 89.5 91.4 88.1 88.9 90.9 92.7 85.1 89.3
Source: Attachment table 6A.19

Proportion of people who felt 'safe' or 'very safe' walking alone locally at night, 2014-15

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete (chapter 6)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 54.3 52.1 52.9 49.3 50.5 57.5 58.4 43.8 52.8
Source: Attachment table 6A.20

Proportion of people who felt 'safe' or 'very safe' travelling on public transport at night, 2014-15

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete (chapter 6)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 30.3 28.5 29.6 20.7 23.1 24.3 32.9 12.0 27.9
Source: Attachment table 6A.21

Crime victimisation

Estimated victimisation rate for physical assault per 100 000 people aged 15 years or over, 2013-14

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete (chapter 6)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
rate 2013.4 2007.2 2316.3 2894.2 2706.9 3282.3 2606.1 4982.5 2262.5
Source: Attachment table 6A.27

Estimated victimisation rate for threatened assault per 100 000 people aged 15 years or over, 2013-14

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete (chapter 6)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
rate 2451.5 2354.6 2795.4 4028.0 2269.4 3330.9 2104.9 3228.1 2673.6
Source: Attachment table 6A.27

Estimated victimisation rate for robbery per 100 000 people aged 15 years or over, 2013-14

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete (chapter 6)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
rate 352.1 332.4 307.6 532.1 185.4 923.9 300.7 210.5 354.9
Source: Attachment table 6A.27

Estimated victimisation rate for sexual assault per 100 000 people aged 18 years or over, 2013-14

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete (chapter 6)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
rate 227.9 323.4 215.4 539.9 374.3 282.3 452.2 np 274.5
Source: Attachment table 6A.27

Estimated household victims of break-ins per 100 000 households, 2013-14

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete (chapter 6)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
rate 2298 2298 2341 4817 2199 3048 3363 6079 2592
Source: Attachment table 6A.28

Estimated household victims of attempted break-ins per 100 000 households, 2013-14

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete (chapter 6)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
rate 1486 1514 2583 3240 1842 2524 1716 5015 1934
Source: Attachment table 6A.28

Estimated household victims of motor vehicle theft per 100 000 households, 2013-14

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete (chapter 6)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
rate 565 487 595 1066 713 810 275 2432 616
Source: Attachment table 6A.28

Estimated household victims of theft from vehicle per 100 000 households, 2013-14

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete (chapter 6)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
rate 2526 3082 1943 5265 2778 2381 3226 4103 2930
Source: Attachment table 6A.28

Estimated household victims of malicious damage per 100 000 households, 2013-14

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete (chapter 6)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
rate 5242 6331 4424 9432 6016 7667 9266 8207 5989
Source: Attachment table 6A.28

Estimated household victims of other theft per 100 000 households, 2013-14

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete (chapter 6)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
rate 2737 2659 2044 3826 2852 3286 2471 4255 2704
Source: Attachment table 6A.28

Reporting rates

Total number of the most recent incidents of physical assault reported to police as a percentage of total estimated number of victims, 2013-14

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete (chapter 6)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 54.3 48.3 55.1 48.5 42.7 36.7 38.5 66.2 51.5
Source: Attachment table 6A.29

Total number of the most recent incidents of threatened assault reported to police as a percentage of total estimated number of victims, 2013-14

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete (chapter 6)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 32.9 41.5 40.4 32.8 31.0 31.5 38.1 29.6 34.3
Source: Attachment table 6A.29

Total number of the most recent incidents of robbery reported to police as a percentage of total estimated number of victims, 2013-14

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete, subject to caveats (chapter 6)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 58.9 40.8 85.3 80.1 77.7 14.1 np np 56.4
Source: Attachment table 6A.29

Total number of the most recent incidents of sexual assault reported to police as a percentage of total estimated number of victims, 2013-14

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete, subject to caveats (chapter 6)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 59.8 np 62.8 41.2 86.1 np 35.9 np 38.2
Source: Attachment table 6A.29

Total number of the most recent incidents of break-ins reported to police as a percentage of total estimated number of victims, 2013-14

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete, subject to caveats (chapter 6)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 65.8 74.9 75.2 77.4 75.7 82.1 90.4 63.7 75.6
Source: Attachment table 6A.30

Total number of the most recent incidents of attempted break-ins reported to police as a percentage of total estimated number of victims, 2013-14

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete, subject to caveats (chapter 6)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 43.2 42.6 40.7 48.7 39.9 53.3 36.4 50.9 42.8
Source: Attachment table 6A.30

Total number of the most recent incidents of motor vehicle thefts reported to police as a percentage of total estimated number of victims, 2013-14

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete, subject to caveats (chapter 6)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 88.3 88.2 88.0 95.6 65.2 94.1 np 78.9 87.9
Source: Attachment table 6A.30

Total number of the most recent incidents of thefts from motor vehicles reported to police as a percentage of total estimated number of victims, 2013-14

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete, subject to caveats (chapter 6)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 49.6 49.0 42.3 49.7 56.3 45.3 71.4 67.5 48.7
Source: Attachment table 6A.30

Total number of the most recent incidents of malicious property damage reported to police as a percentage of total estimated number of victims, 2013-14

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete, subject to caveats (chapter 6)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 47.9 45.8 46.6 60.8 52.3 51.4 54.2 49.0 49.5
Source: Attachment table 6A.30

Total number of the most recent incidents of other theft reported to police as a percentage of total estimated number of victims, 2013-14

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete, subject to caveats (chapter 6)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 39.8 38.5 45.4 35.8 43.6 39.7 53.8 42.1 39.3
Source: Attachment table 6A.30

Outcomes of investigations

Proportion of investigations finalised within 30 days of the offence becoming known to police - homicide, 2014

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete, subject to caveats (chapter 6)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 76.6 62.3 78.8 80.6 75.7 58.3 – 130.0 ..
Source: Attachment table 6A.31

Proportion of investigations finalised within 30 days of the offence becoming known to police - sexual assault, 2014

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete, subject to caveats (chapter 6)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 36.2 36.7 54.4 40.0 40.8 43.5 29.5 65.4 ..
Source: Attachment table 6A.31

Proportion of investigations finalised within 30 days of the offence becoming known to police - kidnapping, 2014

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete, subject to caveats (chapter 6)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 47.9 54.1 61.3 39.1 62.7 – 75.0 – ..
Source: Attachment table 6A.31

Proportion of investigations finalised within 30 days of the offence becoming known to police - armed robbery, 2014

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete, subject to caveats (chapter 6)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 31.9 36.7 55.8 42.7 38.7 50.0 20.9 78.3 ..
Source: Attachment table 6A.31

Proportion of investigations finalised within 30 days of the offence becoming known to police - unarmed robbery, 2014

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete, subject to caveats (chapter 6)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 33.7 30.6 53.6 37.8 37.8 48.4 15.3 82.8 ..
Source: Attachment table 6A.31

Proportion of investigations finalised within 30 days of the offence becoming known to police - blackmail/extortion, 2014

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete, subject to caveats (chapter 6)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 36.9 40.3 42.2 44.6 43.4 – – 100.0 ..
Source: Attachment table 6A.31

Proportion of investigations finalised within 30 days of the offence becoming known to police - unlawful entry with intent, 2014

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete, subject to caveats (chapter 6)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 6.7 8.9 17.6 12.1 8.8 15.9 3.0 29.3 ..
Source: Attachment table 6A.32

Proportion of investigations finalised within 30 days of the offence becoming known to police - motor vehicle theft, 2014

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete, subject to caveats (chapter 6)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 6.4 13.3 34.6 23.4 15.4 18.9 5.6 33.1 ..
Source: Attachment table 6A.32

Proportion of investigations finalised within 30 days of the offence becoming known to police - other theft, 2014

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete, subject to caveats (chapter 6)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% np 13.1 28.5 11.8 15.0 26.3 7.2 31.1 ..
Source: Attachment table 6A.32

Road safety

Proportion of people who had driven in previous six months without wearing a seatbelt 'rarely' or more often, 2014-15

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete, subject to caveats (chapter 6)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 6.3 6.1 3.7 3.8 5.2 6.3 4.5 7.9 5.4
Source: Attachment table 6A.33

Proportion of people who had driven in previous six months when possibly over the alcohol limit 'rarely' or more often, 2014-15

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete, subject to caveats (chapter 6)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 6.4 6.9 5.7 12.3 12.3 8.8 9.3 11.4 7.4
Source: Attachment table 6A.34

Proportion of people who had driven in previous six months 10 km per hour or more above the speed limit 'rarely' or more often, 2014-15

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete, subject to caveats (chapter 6)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 57.5 49.7 56.8 59.2 48.2 56.4 65.6 63.7 55.1
Source: Attachment table 6A.35

Road deaths

The number of road deaths per 100 000 registered vehicles, 2014-15

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete, subject to caveats (chapter 6)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 5.8 5.6 6.2 8.2 8.3 7.5 3.5 26.4 6.5
Source: Attachment table 6A.36

Land transport hospitalisations per registered vehicle

The number of hospitalisations from traffic accidents per 100 000 registered vehicles

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete, subject to caveats (chapter 6)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
no. 252 209 232 205 220 163 282 455 229
Source: Attachment table 6A.37

Deaths in police custody

The number of deaths in police custody and custody related operations, 2013-14

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete, subject to caveats (chapter 6)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
no. na na 4 4 1 – – 2 11
Source: Attachment table 6A.38

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander deaths in custody

The number of non-Indigenous and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander deaths in police custody and custody related operations, 2013-14

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete, subject to caveats (chapter 6)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
no. na na 1 2 – – – 2 5
Source: Attachment table 6A.38

Magistrates court defendants resulting in a guilty plea or finding

The number of finalised adjudicated defendants in lower courts who either submitted a guilty plea or were found guilty, as a proportion of the total number of magistrates court adjudicated defendants.

Most recent data for this measure are comparable and complete, subject to caveats (chapter 6)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 95.2 99.0 99.4 97.8 99.5 88.0 96.2 97.1 97.7
Source: Attachment table 6A.40

Legend

a Caveats for these data are available in Chapter 6 and Attachment 6A. Refer to the indicator interpretation boxes in chapter 6 for information to assist with interpreting data presented in this table.

b These data are derived from detailed data in Chapter 6 and Attachment 6A.

na Not available.

.. Not applicable.

- Nil or rounded to zero.

np Not published.

Source: Chapter 6 and Attachment 6A

Performance indicator data for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in this chapter are available in the attachment tables listed below. Contextual data and further supporting information can be found in the chapter.

Indigenous police services data
Table number Table title
Table 6A.1 Police service expenditure, staff and asset descriptors, NSW
Table 6A.2 Police service expenditure, staff and asset descriptors, Victoria
Table 6A.3 Police service expenditure, staff and asset descriptors, Queensland
Table 6A.4 Police service expenditure, staff and asset descriptors, WA
Table 6A.5 Police service expenditure, staff and asset descriptors, SA
Table 6A.6 Police service expenditure, staff and asset descriptors, Tasmania
Table 6A.7 Police service expenditure, staff and asset descriptors, ACT
Table 6A.8 Police service expenditure, staff and asset descriptors, NT
Table 6A.17 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, sworn and unsworn police staff
Table 6A.38 Number of deaths in police custody and custody-related operations