A recent report from the office of the Queensland government statistician indicates that there were a total of 620,898 reported offenses during the 2024-25 financial year, reflecting a 1 percent increase compared to the previous year. However, when adjusted for population growth, the rate of offenses in Queensland actually decreased by 1.2 percent.
According to the data, the number of unique victims of personal offenses rose to 66,296, marking a 1.9 percent increase from the prior year. Nevertheless, the per capita victim rate experienced a slight decline, dropping from 1,180.8 victims per 100,000 residents to 1,177, despite the ongoing population growth in the state, indicating a 0.3 percent reduction.
Opposition Leader Steven Miles has expressed that many residents of Queensland feel increasingly unsafe. He emphasized that the perception of safety is at odds with government claims regarding improved crime rates.
The government has cited these statistics as evidence of progress in addressing youth crime, while the opposition countered that citizens’ concerns about safety remain unaddressed. Premier David Crisafulli has made crime a focal point of his electoral agenda, pledging to resign if victim numbers do not decline by the end of his term.
The report also highlighted a significant reduction in youth offenders, with a 16.7 percent decrease noted for the 2024-25 period compared to the previous year. This reporting period encompasses the last three months of the former Labor administration and the initial nine months of the current LNP government.
Attorney-General Deb Frecklington asserted that the report signals early positive changes in combating what she referred to as “Labor’s youth crime crisis.” However, she refrained from commenting on whether the state remains in a youth crime crisis. Frecklington stated, “This crime report shows those very early positive signs, but there is always more work to be done.” She emphasized the importance of continued investment in law enforcement and proactive measures to address crime.
The report detailed various crime trends, revealing a 2.2 percent increase in assault offenses and a 7.2 percent rise in sexual offenses. Additionally, offenses related to the Weapons Act saw a 9.5 percent increase, while trespassing and vagrancy offenses surged by 10.5 percent. In contrast, there were notable decreases in unlawful entry by 7.9 percent, fraud offenses by 23.6 percent, and unlawful use of a motor vehicle by 3.5 percent. Robbery offenses diminished by 8.6 percent, while murder and other homicide rates fell significantly by 26 percent and 33 percent, respectively.
In response to the latest findings, Opposition Leader Steven Miles reiterated concerns about public safety, stating, “Every single day that David Crisafulli tries to tell Queenslanders that he has fixed crime, it’s jarring for those Queenslanders who are experiencing it. Clearly, crime continues to increase in Queensland and people don’t feel safe.”
