Ten years of ACT Policing data reveal a fundamental shift in Canberra's crime landscape, with violent offences replacing property crime as the dominant threat. Analysis of records from 2014 to 2024 shows total reported incidents fell by 35%, from nearly 49,000 in 2017 to about 31,500 last year, despite a 21% population increase.
Home burglaries dropped 57% to a decade-low of 1.6 incidents per 1,000 residents in 2024. However, domestic and family violence (DFV)-related assaults surged 89%, sexual assaults rose 81%, and other assaults increased 45% over the same period. The rate of DFV assaults climbed from almost two to nearly three per 1,000 residents, while sexual assault rates rose from one to 1.5 per 1,000.
Shamaruh Mirza, president of the charity Sitara Story, said reported assaults understate the true scale of DFV, as many victims do not report due to family or social pressures. She noted growing awareness of coercive control and emotional abuse, but said survivors still struggle to identify signs.
Josh Hewitt of EveryMan said self-referrals to violence prevention services have increased, indicating more men are seeking help. He attributed the rise in interpersonal violence to stress, anger, and hyper-masculine influences like Andrew Tate affecting younger men.
ACT Policing noted that property crime declines may be linked to factors such as security systems and increased apartment living, while increased reporting of sexual and family violence may reflect more police resources and victim support. A new sexual assault and child abuse team was established in September 2025 to meet demand.
University of Technology Sydney lecturer Thalia Anthony said gentrification reduces property crime but noted that increased police focus and awareness campaigns may drive up assault reports. She described the shift as a 'concerning offset' in crime patterns.
