Scrutiny of Acts and Regulations Committee

Review of Redundant and Unclear Legislation
Review of the Vagrancy Act 1966,
Discussion Paper, April 2002

Appendix 2 - Magistrates' Court Statistics 1998/99

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The hundred most common offences (charge based count) by Act, Magistrates’ Court, 1998/99
*denotes Vagrancy Act 1966

Rank

Act-Section

Description

Number

Percentage

1

6231.74

Theft

35,654

12.0

2

6231.81.1

Obtain property by deception

23,056

7.8

3

7405.13*

Drunk in a public place

17,414

5.9

4

9719.73.1

Possess drug of dependence (not named)

8,888

3.0

5

86/127.65

Careless driving

7,598

2.6

6

7405.23*

Unlawful assault

7,092

2.4

7

86/127.49.1.B

Drive whilst exceeding p.c.a. (.05 per cent)

7,077

2.4

8

9719.75

Use drug of dependence (not named)

6,957

2.4

9

86/127.49.1.F

Ex. Prescribed concentration 3hrs-breath

6,671

2.3

10

6231.76.1

Burglary

6,406

2.2

11

86/127.30.1

Drive whilst disqualified

6,101

2.1

12

7405.52.1

Assault police/person assisting police

5,030

1.7

13

6231.88.1

Handle/receive/dispose of stolen goods

4,911

1.7

14

86/127.18.1.A

Unlicensed driving

4,717

1.6

15

86/127.7.1.A

Use unregistered motor vehicle - highway

4,609

1.6

16

6231.197.1

Criminal damage (intent damage/destroy)

4,604

1.6

17

9008.30.1

Fail to answer bail

4,552

1.5

18

6231.321M

Att. Commit an indictable offence

3,847

1.3

19

87/19.22

Breach intervention order

3,808

1.3

20

SR88/30.1001.1C

Exceed speed limit - speed zone

3,766

1.3

21

SR88/28.225.1
SR87/24.225.1

Drive with no 'p' plates displayed
Fail to conspicuously display plates

3,544

1.2

23

6231.91.1

Go equipped to steal/cheat

3,513

1.2

24

7405.24.2*

Assault in company

3,285

1.1

25

6231.82.1

Obtain financial advantage by deception

3258

1.1

26

9719.71.1

Traffick drug of dependence (not named)

3,186

1.1

27

6231.83A.1

Make a false doc. To prejudice of other

3,040

1.0

28

6231.18

Recklessly cause injury

2,823

1.0

29

CSOC.1350

Contravene section of act

2,593

0.9

30

6231.76.1.A

Burglary - intent to steal

2,239

0.8

31

CTAX.8C.A

Refuse to furnish return

2,097

0.7

32

6231.18

Intentionally cause injury

2,055

0.7

33

7405.17.1.C

Use indecent language in public place

2,004

0.7

34

9719.72.1

Cultivate a narcotic plant-cannabis

1,829

0.6

35

7405.17.1.D*

Behave in riotous manner in public place

1,797

0.6

36

6231.83A.2

Use a false document to prejudice other

1,790

0.6

37

7405.26.1*

Unlawful possession

1,754

0.6

38

7405.9.1.C*

Wilfully injure property

1,651

0.6

39

91/49.47.1

Failure to comply with cbo

1,553

0.5

40

86/127.64.1

Drive in a manner dangerous

1,432

0.5

41

90/24.6.1

Possess regulated weapon

1,428

0.5

42

91/49.31.1

Breach of suspended sentence order

1,279

0.4

43

SR88/30.1001.1.A

Exceed 60 kph limit in a built up area

1,237

0.4

44

86/127.59.2

State false name

1,215

0.4

45

SR88/29.222.1

Fix false number plates on vehicle

1,167

0.4

46

SR88/28.224.1.B

Learner drive without full licensee

1,166

0.4

47

CCORP.335.1

Fail to lodge an annual return

1,155

0.4

48

86/127.61.1.A

Fail to stop vehicle after an accident

1,114

0.4

49

86/127.61.1.C.I

Fail to give name and address to injured

1,068

0.4

50

7393.7.1.I

Unlawfully on premises/precinct

1,052

0.4

51

94/81.29.1

Dog rushes person/animal

1,017

0.3

52

SR88/30.1506.1

Fail to wear proper secured seatbelt

963

0.3

53

9719.77

Forge prescription for drug dependence

960

0.3

54

6231.20

Make threat to kill

867

0.3

55

86/127.R5.1001.1.B

Exceed speed limit - 100kph

863

0.3

56

86/127.21.1A

Fail to carry probationary licence

853

0.3

57

SR88/30.401.1

Disobey traffic control signal

830

0.3

58

86/127.61.1.F

Fail to report to police owner not present

824

0.3

59

86/127.70.1

Tamper with motor vehicle

758

0.3

60

SR88/30.803.1

Fail to give appropriate signal

722

0.2

61

CCRI.85ZE.A

Use telecommunications service to menace

719

0.2

62

SR88/28.223.1

Drive without "l" plates displayed

690

0.2

63

94/81.24.1

Dog at large outside owners premises

669

0.2

64

SR88/30.1619.2

Cause undue noise while using a vehicle

644

0.2

65

6231.456AA.3.B

State false name when requested

617

0.2

66

96/66.6.1

Non-proh. Possess cat a longarm unlic.

608

0.2

67

86/127.72.1.B

Fraudulently alter registration label

589

0.2

68

6231.83.1.A

False accounting

574

0.2

69

7405.53.1

Make false report to police

568

0.2

70

97/108.123.1

Bring money to vic - proceeds of crime

568

0.2

71

6231.17

Recklessly cause serious injury

555

0.2

72

86/127.49.1.E

Refuse/fail to accompany to station for blood test

540

0.2

73

6231.21A.1

Stalk another person (crimes act)

536

0.2

74

6231.23

Reckless conduct endanger serious injury

532

0.2

75

86/127.49.1.G

Ex. Prescribed concentration 3hrs-blood

526

0.2

76

Local Law Offence

Local law offence

515

0.2

77

CCRI.85ZE

Use phone service - menace/harass/offend

503

0.2

78

86/127.59.1.A

Fail to stop motor vehicle on request

483

0.2

79

7393.7.1.F

Loiter with intent commit indict offence

467

0.2

80

CHEA.128B.1

Make false statement relating to claim

439

0.1

81

SR88/28.203.4

Fail to notify change of name/address

418

0.1

82

CTAX.8H

Refuse to comply with order

417

0.1

83

CCORP.1311.1

Do forbidden act under this law

414

0.1

84

6231.83A.4

Use copy of false document

413

0.1

85

86/46.9.C

Cause unnecessary pain to an animal

407

0.1

86

9719.78.A

Obtain drug by false representation

407

0.1

87

86/127.49.1.A

Drive under influence of intoxicating liquor

398

0.1

88

7405.7.G

Throw stone to injure/danger/damage prop

386

0.1

89

90/24.7.1

Possess a dangerous article

375

0.1

90

86/127.61.1.B

Fail to render assistance after accident

361

0.1

91

6231.75

Robbery

359

0.1

92

7393.7.1.C

Wilful and obscene exposure in public

359

0.1

93

86/127.R5.402.10.A

Fail to stop at stop sign

341

0.1

94

6231.39.1

Indecent assault

340

0.1

95

86/127.7.1.B

Own unregistered vehicle used on highway

340

0.1

96

96/66.7

Possess unregistered handgun wo licence

339

0.1

97

94/81.10.1

Fail to apply to register a dog

337

0.1

98

6231.456AA.3.C

State false address when requested

329

0.1

99

86/127.18.1.B

Drive in breach of licence condition

325

0.1

100

86/127.61.1.C.II

Fail to give name/address to owner/rep.

324

0.1

Total of Hundred Most Common Offences (charge based count)

253,926

85.8

Total Charges Finalised

296,000

100.0

Source: Table CR 4.11, Table A11: The hundred most common offences (charge based count) by Act, Magistrates’ Court, 1998/99, Statistics of the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria, 1998/99.

Points:

1. Same as for the Summary Offences Act Discussion Paper (Magistrates’ Court Statistics 1998/99), except that the * will be used to denote offences under the Vagrancy Act 1966, rather than the Summary Offences Act 1966.

2. The ‘rank number’ to be highlighted and denoted in the table are 50 (s.7(1)(i)- unlawfully on premises/precinct), 79 (s.7(1)(f) - loiter with intent to commit an indictable offence), and 92 (s.7(1)(c) - wilful and obscene exposure in public).


Scrutiny of Acts and Regulations Committee
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