Description
The prevalence of violent crime – which includes homicide, assault, sexual assault, robbery and kidnapping – can be difficult to measure, with the facts often obscured by fear. If regular media reports are to be believed, Australia is constantly in the midst of a violent crime wave; is this actually the case? Why are 18-24 year olds most at risk of being victims and perpetrators of violent crime? What are the effects of violence on victims? Alcohol-related violence is a complex issue explored in this book – do greater alcohol restrictions and the introduction of ‘one-punch’ laws and mandatory sentencing have an impact on violent street assaults? Is jailing offenders the most effective solution to reducing violence in society? This book presents the latest Australian statistics on recorded crime and victimisation rates and explores risks to personal safety, proposing a variety of responses to deal with violent crime. Chapter 1: Personal crime victimisation and safety Chapter 2: Responding to violent crime Worksheets and activities; Fast facts; Glossary; Web links; Index