SEXUAL ASSAULT, PROSECUTIONS

7 The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (31 May 2007).

1. How many prosecutions were there for sexual assault (family member) and rape in South Australia during 2006?

2. How many prosecutions were there for the supply of false and misleading information to South Australia Police in assault (family member) and rape cases during 2006?

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Police, Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning): The question as phrased by the member can not be answered in its entirety, given the statistical grouping of offences within the State and National framework.

Statistical groups of offending that have a sexual element used for crime (reported by victims that relate to offences against the person) in this State are:

Rape/Attempted Rape;

Other Sexual Offences; and

Other Offences against Person

The number of prosecutions initiated for 2006 for offences in those groups that have a sexual element to offending is 553. (NB: Retrieved from the statistical data held within the Justice Warehouse.)

That offending can be further broken down into offences:

Rape 182

Attempted Rape 1

Indecent assault 160

Unlawful Sexual Intercourse 92

Incest 2

Indecent behaviour/exposure 81

Gross indecency 6

Incite or procure an act of gross indecency 13

Persistent sexual abuse of a child 1

Other sexual offences 15

Total 553

Information held on rape charges (pertaining to victims) is categorised by way of age and sex. Sexual assault/rape of a family member is not part of the national reporting framework as that offending would be charged as incest.

Prosecutions initiated in 2006 for offences of supplying of false and misleading information to South Australia Police is 119. (NB: Retrieved from the statistical data held within the Justice Warehouse.)

That offending can be further broken down into offences:

Make a false representation to a police officer where the representation would cause a police investigation—81

Make a false representation to a person where the representation would be communicated to a police officer and cause a police investigation—15

Create false belief that an offence has been committed—16

Create false belief that life has or may have been lost or endangered—7

Total—119

Persons in these statistical categories are charged under the Summary Offences Act and there is no current method or system to link this offending to existing statistical sexual offending.