Google AI

Weekend Times


The Times

Business News

Is Australia becoming a more violent country?

  • Written by: Samara McPhedran, Principal Research Fellow, Violence Research and Prevention Program, Griffith University

Almost every day, it seems we read or hear reports another family is grieving the murder of a loved one in a street brawl[1], another business owner is hospitalised after trying to fend off armed robbers, or shoppers simply going about their business are confronted by knife-wielding thugs[2].

The way media and politicians talk, it seems as if we are in the middle of an unprecedented violent crime crisis.

But are we?

The short answer is: no.

Comparing today with the past

Although the numbers fluctuate from year to year, Australia is less violent today than in previous years.

It is difficult to make direct comparisons over decades, because the way crimes are defined and recorded changes (especially for assault).

Weapons and violence are rarely out of the media cycle in Australia, leading many to fear this country is becoming less safe for everyday people. Is that really the case, though? This is the first story in a four-part series. For crimes like domestic violence, the statistics are extremely hard to compare over time but even so, prevalence appears to have declined[3] (although only about half[4] of all women who experience physical and/or sexual violence from their partners seek advice or support). However, if we consider homicide and robbery[5] (which have been categorised much the same way over time), the numbers have been falling for decades. Yes, knives and bladed weapons have been in the news recently[6], but this does not mean they are being used more often. Reliable, long-term statistics are not always available but the ones we have show the use of weapons[7] has declined over time[8]. Interestingly, this seems to have nothing to do with the weapons themselves. For instance, armed robbery and unarmed robbery both rise and fall in about the same way, at about the same time. Homicide follows a similar pattern. Not all crimes are reported to police but self-reported statistics[9] show the same trends[10]. Relative to ten years ago, Australians now are less likely to say[11] they have experienced physical or threatened face-to-face assault in the previous 12 months. Places with greater socioeconomic disadvantage typically experience more violence. In Queensland, for instance, Mt Isa has higher violent crime rates[12] than affluent areas of Brisbane. Despite differences between places, there is generally less violence than there used to be. Why is violence declining? Nobody knows quite why violence is decreasing. This is not just happening in Australia but[13] across[14] many developed[15] nations[16]. Suggestions include better social welfare, strong economies, improved education, low unemployment, women’s rights and stable governance. Also, new avenues have opened up that carry less risk than violent crime – such as cyberfraud instead of robbing a bank. There is no clear, compelling explanation. Yet when we consider Australia’s responses when violence does occur, measures such as bans (for example, on machetes[17]), more police powers[18] and more (or longer) prison sentences[19] have become the fallback. Evidence shows these types of reactions achieve little[20], but in an environment of endless “crisis” it is almost impossible to make good decisions. This is made even harder in circumstances where victims and activists push politicians to implement “feel-good” policies[21], regardless of how ultimately fruitless those will be. Who are the people being violent? One thing remains the same: violent crime is primarily committed by younger men[22] (who are also likely to be victims). Ethnicity and migration[23] are also recurrent themes. Just as young Italians with switchblades[24] were the focus of moral panic in the 1950s and 60s, migrants from places such as Africa[25] and the Middle East are now held up as a danger. Ethnicity/migration history data is not always recorded in crime statistics, but the information we do have suggests a more complex picture[26]. Factors such as exposure to warfare and civil strife can certainly play a role in people’s use of violence. However, unemployment, poverty, poor education and involvement with drugs and/or gangs tend to play a much larger part. Reactions versus reality If society is less violent, why are public reactions to violence seemingly becoming more intense? Incidents that would have received little attention a decade ago now dominate public debate and single incidents – no matter how rare or isolated[27] – are enough to provoke sweeping legislative and policy changes. Violence is political currency. The more the spectre of violence[28] is emphasised and exaggerated[29], the more power people are willing to give to authorities to do something to fix it. This is also about psychology: the better things get, the more sensitive people tend to be to whatever ills remain and resilience can crumble when something bad does happen. Pandering to this by rushing to make people feel safer – while politically irresistible – has unintended consequences. When another incident occurs, as it always does, people feel even more vulnerable because they were led to believe the problem had been “fixed”. This creates a never-ending cycle of superficial responses while underlying issues are ignored. We cannot legislate or politicise our way out of violence. The best responses are ones that identify and address actual root causes and look at the circumstances that surround violence – rather than fixating on the violence itself. This means moving away from emotional reactions and taking a clear look at why violence occurs in the first place. Until this happens, any further reductions in violence are more likely to be good luck than good management.

References

  1. ^ in a street brawl (www.theage.com.au)
  2. ^ confronted by knife-wielding thugs (www.heraldsun.com.au)
  3. ^ appears to have declined (www.abs.gov.au)
  4. ^ only about half (www.aihw.gov.au)
  5. ^ homicide and robbery (www.abs.gov.au)
  6. ^ have been in the news recently (theconversation.com)
  7. ^ use of weapons (www.abs.gov.au)
  8. ^ declined over time (www.aic.gov.au)
  9. ^ self-reported statistics (www.abs.gov.au)
  10. ^ same trends (www.abs.gov.au)
  11. ^ less likely to say (www.abs.gov.au)
  12. ^ higher violent crime rates (mypolice.qld.gov.au)
  13. ^ but (ec.europa.eu)
  14. ^ across (www.pewresearch.org)
  15. ^ developed (www.ons.gov.uk)
  16. ^ nations (www.statcan.gc.ca)
  17. ^ on machetes (www.consumer.vic.gov.au)
  18. ^ more police powers (www.abc.net.au)
  19. ^ more (or longer) prison sentences (www.theguardian.com)
  20. ^ achieve little (www.unsw.edu.au)
  21. ^ “feel-good” policies (journals.sagepub.com)
  22. ^ younger men (www.abs.gov.au)
  23. ^ Ethnicity and migration (www.theguardian.com)
  24. ^ young Italians with switchblades (www.heraldsun.com.au)
  25. ^ places such as Africa (www.abc.net.au)
  26. ^ more complex picture (www.tandfonline.com)
  27. ^ rare or isolated (www.abc.net.au)
  28. ^ the spectre of violence (www.tandfonline.com)
  29. ^ emphasised and exaggerated (www.abc.net.au)

Authors: Samara McPhedran, Principal Research Fellow, Violence Research and Prevention Program, Griffith University

Read more https://theconversation.com/is-australia-becoming-a-more-violent-country-260102

The Weekend Times Magazine

Tinseltown - Keeping up with the Kardashians no more: the complicated legacy of reality’s first family

Kim Kardashian West has announced to her 160m followers on Instagram that Keeping Up with the Kardashians will end after its next season. The Kardashians, particularly Kim, have been at the...

Weekend Escapes Closer to Home: Making the Most of Every Litre

Rising fuel prices are changing more than household budgets—they are changing the way Australians holiday. For many families, a weekend away has traditionally meant filling the car and heading several hundred...

Lifestyle Awnings – Bringing Style and Comfort to Melbourne Outdoor Living

Melbourne homeowners are always looking for ways to make better use of their outdoor areas. Whether it's entertaining, relaxing, or adding value to the property, installing Lifestyle Awnings is one of...

5 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Australia

Australia is an interesting country that has a spectacular beauty in the form of ancient rainforests, vibrant cities, sand islands, and turquoise beaches. Moreover, the people there are friendly and...

The Psychology of Your Floor Plan: How Layout Shapes the Way You Live

When most people think about designing a new home, they focus on finishes, colours, or even the kitchen benchtop. But the quiet hero of liveability is the floor plan. A...

Should I get a COVID vaccine while I’m pregnant or breastfeeding?

From Monday, Australia’s front-line health workers, quarantine staff, border control officers, and workers and residents in aged-care homes will be offered the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. Some of these workers will be...

Why External Blinds and Awnings Are Essential for Comfortable and Protected Outdoor Spaces

Creating outdoor areas that remain functional, comfortable, and visually appealing throughout the year requires effective protection from sun, wind, and changing weather. Installing external blinds and awnings provides a practical solution...

Unit and construction market looks towards a new era of stability

The peak strata industry body in New South Wales representing the interests of all strata industry stakeholders says it is confident the era of construction and certifier cowboys will come...

What To Look For In a Robot Pool Cleaner

Robotic pool cleaners are a stunning feat of modern technology, allowing you to keep your pools clean with minimal effort on your part. Pool cleaning and maintenance has always remained...