Farm Victimisation in Australia

• Published in: Trends and issues in crime and criminal justice 2002-08 (235), p.1
• Main Author: Carcach, Carlos
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Farms; Victims of crime
• ISSN: 0817-8542; 1836-2206

This paper summarises the main results from a national farm crime survey commissioned by the Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC). The survey sought data on experiences of farm crime victimisation in Australia during the period from 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001. Twenty-seven per cent of farms were victims of property crime during the survey period. This is almost three times the rate of property crime among Australian households (which is 9.2% according to the latest National Crime Victims Survey published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics in 1998). The types of crime that affected Australian farms varied in their degree of seriousness, prevalence and incidence. Livestock theft, theft of farm property and damage to farm property had prevalence rates of eight per cent, six per cent and four per cent respectively. The offences of dumping rubbish, trespassing and unauthorised hunting or fishing had prevalence rates of three per cent, 10 per cent and 12 per cent respectively. About one in three victims reported their last incident of crime to the police. The highest reporting rates were observed for theft of farm vehicles, farm machinery, tools, spare parts, materials or farm produce (60%), and livestock theft (47%). The total loss to farmers from crime was estimated to be $63 million, or an average $2,690 per victimised farm. The total net cost of repair, replacement and out-of-pocket expenses after insurance claims was $8.7 million, or an average $354 per victimised farm. Livestock theft attracted both the highest losses and the highest net costs to farms, with $49 million in total losses and $3.2 million in total net costs. This is the first national survey of its type in Australia and is part of a three-year project aimed at enhancing our knowledge about crime against farms. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]