Queensland Crime Statistics: A Mixed Picture for 2024-25
The Queensland government statistician's office has released its report for the 2024-25 financial year, detailing 620,898 offences. This figure represents a 1% increase from the previous year.
However, when accounting for population growth, the per capita rate of offences decreased by 1.2%.
The report further indicates 66,296 unique victims of personal offences during the period, a 1.9% rise. Despite this, the per capita rate of victims saw a decrease of 0.3%, moving from 1,180.8 to 1,177 per 100,000 people. A notable positive trend highlighted is a 16.7% reduction in youth offenders compared to the 2023-24 period.
The statistics cover a transitional political period, encompassing the final three months of the former Labor government and the initial nine months of the current LNP administration.
Varying Offence Trends Across Categories
The report provides a detailed breakdown of changes across specific offence types, revealing a mixed landscape:
- Assault offences increased by 2.2%.
- Sexual offences rose by 7.2%.
- Weapons Act offences were up 9.5%.
- Trespassing and vagrancy offences increased by 10.5%.
- Unlawful entry decreased by 7.9%.
- Fraud offences significantly reduced by 23.6%.
- Unlawful use of a motor vehicle declined by 3.5%.
- Robbery offences reduced by 8.6%.
- Murder offences decreased by 26%, and other homicides by 33%.
Government and Opposition Perspectives
Attorney-General Deb Frecklington stated that the report shows "early positive signs" in addressing youth crime. She attributed this progress to increased police presence, stronger laws, and early intervention strategies. Frecklington acknowledged that more work is necessary and pointed out that no children have faced court on new "adult crime, adult time" offences in the past 11 years, despite 12 new offences being added to the legislation.
Opposition Leader Steven Miles offered a contrasting view, commenting that Queensland residents report not feeling safer. He asserted that crime continues to increase and that attempts to declare crime "fixed" are inconsistent with public experience.
Premier David Crisafulli had previously committed to stepping down if victim numbers did not fall by the end of his term.