From: SSAA, [EMAIL PROTECTED] Herald Sun - Melbourne Needles the top weapons for criminals By JOHN FERGUSON 25oct00 SYRINGES are used as weapons in more than one in five of all robberies, according to a study into crime in Victoria. And despite the crackdown on gun ownership after the Port Arthur massacre, pistols are now used in almost one in five homicides. The study reveals women are the main victims of aggravated burglaries. The findings are included in State Parliament's influential Drugs and CrimePrevention Committee report into crime trends between 1995 and 2000. Inner Melbourne and Prahran police districts recorded the worst murder rates in the state for each 100,000 population. Gippsland is one of the worst areas in the state for assaults. The use of syringes in robberies is graphic evidence of the effects of chaotic heroin use. The report, chaired by Liberal MP Cameron Boardman, shows Victoria has an ever-rising rate of crime, even though it has the lowest total crime rate nationally. But the news is not good for women. The profile of the average aggravated burglary victim has changed dramatically from several years ago, when males were the victims in more than 70 per cent of cases. "The 1998-99 figures show that females are now the predominant victims of this offence category, representing 51.17per cent of all victims," the report says. "The dramatic shift in victimisation towards females and older victims is a reflection of the legislative change allowing police to charge an unarmed burglar with aggravated burglary if the victim is in the house." The report also details where most crime occurs in Victoria and its other key findings include: SYRINGE offences in robberies have jumped in recent years, from just over 4 per cent of all weapons to almost 21 per cent. THE number of pistols used in rape offences climbed from 1.5 per cent in 1997-98 to 10.1 per cent the following year. MOST murders occurred in houses or in the street, on a path or down a lane. MILK bars and convenience stores are the new target for robbers. THE number of drug offences such as trafficking, manufacturing and growing fell almost 17 per cent in 1999-00 despite the so-called police crackdown. KNIVES are still the preferred weapon of choice for rapists. MOST robberies occur in streets, lanes and paths and retail outlets. Mr Boardman said one of the areas of most concern was the rise in categories of violent offences. "The committee identified that there has been a steady increase in the number of firearms being used, threatened or displayed in serious violent crimes such as homicide and rape," he said. "Additionally, there has been a marked increase in the number of robberies reported over the five-year period "(And) of note is the considerable increase in the number of aggravated burglaries recorded over the time frame." back Cybershooters website: http://www.cybershooters.org List admin: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___________________________________________________________ T O P I C A The Email You Want. http://www.topica.com/t/16 Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Your Favorite Topics
