Youth Crime in Australia

Youth crime is a complex and sensitive issue, and in recent years, the question of whether Australia is experiencing a youth crime crisis has been the subject of intense debate and speculation amongst media, policymakers and the public. Unquestionably, concerns about youth crime are currently very high, and the severity of youth crime appears to be getting worse.

What Do the Statistics Say?

During 2023-24, 46,798 youth offenders (aged 10 to 17 years) were recorded in Australia, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Whilst this figure could still be considered high, and arguably, more needs to be done by way of prevention, early intervention and rehabilitation to curb youth crime – youth offender rates have generally declined over the last 15 years – for the latest reporting period, a decreasing of 3% (1,216 offenders) since 2022-23 was recorded.

While these big picture numbers may provide some comfort, they likely to do little to quell fears of those who have or know somebody who has experienced youth crime in their neighbourhoods, or who are concerned about the behaviours of their own child or adolescent. Importantly, while aggregate statistics show an improvement in these measured metrics, there are unfortunately many specific geographical areas which have seen increases in overall youth crime. Further, news coverage on youth crime, including reports of serious incidences such as car theft and violent break-and-enters, understandably increases concerns for communities around personal safety and home security.

Protecting Our Homes

There are many practical, low-cost steps you can take to harden your home security and make it significantly less attractive target for criminals. While no security measure is foolproof, implementing a combination of behavioural habit changes, and making small physical improvements to your home, can greatly increase your overall security and reduce the risk of being a victim of a break-and-enter and theft.

National Secure Your Home Day – which takes place on the last weekend of September – encourages all households to dedicate one day to raise awareness of crime prevention and to carry out a simple security assessment of their home. By participating, you can improve your own home’s security and help to make your neighbourhood safer.

Register for your FREE National Secure Your Home Day Kit – including a home security checklist, plus simple, evidence-based security tips to harden your home security.