Youth-Assaults-in-Victoria--A-Rising-Concern.knit

Youth Assaults in Victoria: A Rising Concern

Are youth assaults really increasing, and what can the data tell us about where, who, and how?

Thomas Saleh (s4006031)

Youth: 10–17 years (CSA definition)

Assault: serious assault, common assault, assault police

Data source: Crime Statistics Agency (Victoria)

Youth offenders remain far fewer than adults, but both groups show a steady upward trend over recent years.

The number of distinct youth offenders has increased over time, suggesting more young people are entering the justice system.

Common assault and serious assault consistently make up most recorded incidents, showing stability in the pattern of offences.

Urban areas such as Melbourne, Casey, and Dandenong appear most frequently among the highest youth offender counts.

Youth assault incidents are not evenly distributed across Victoria.

Urban LGAs such as Melbourne, Casey, Wyndham, and Greater Dandenong consistently record the highest youth offender incidents
Some regional areas — e.g., Latrobe, Greater Geelong, Mildura — also report notable numbers
A map-based visual (e.g., choropleth) could highlight clustering, but geographic shapefile data was not available during development

This slide provides geographic context without needing a visual map.

A gradual decrease in unique youth offenders may indicate that a smaller group is responsible for repeated incidents over time.

Youth assaults show a stronger upward trend compared to adults

Serious assaults appear to be driving much of the increase

Hotspots are concentrated in both major urban LGAs and select regional areas

Fewer unique youth offenders alongside steady incidents suggests repeat offending

“Alleged” does not mean “guilty” — data should not stigmatise young people or communities

Media often amplifies extreme cases (e.g., weapon incidents), while data tells a broader, less sensational story

The goal is understanding trends, not fear or blame

All data presented comes from open government sources (CSA, June 2025)

Crime Statistics Agency Victoria. (2025). Crime statistics data tables: Year ending June 2025. https://www.crimestatistics.vic.gov.au/