Huge increase in drunken women turning to violence - police crime stats

The following article lends weight to my previous post where I called on governments to create an anti-violence campaign focused on female perpetrators, perhaps something like "Blokes dont dig chicks who brawl" - GR Klein


By Nick Taylor, May 31, 2008, Perth Now

DRINK-FUELLED violence by young women is soaring, according to figures released by WA Police.

Latest crime statistics show more drunken and loutish behaviour by so-called ladettes -- girls who mimic the binge-drinking and brawling antics of male louts.

The number of women arrested for assault and anti-social behaviour in 2007 was 30 per cent up on 2005 figures.

There has also been a significant rise in the number of women arrested for alcohol-related offences.

Alcohol-fuelled assaults leapt dramatically once females reached the legal age of 18 and began tapering off once they hit their 30s. Other crimes like disorderly conduct, property damage and threatening behaviour follow a similar pattern.

Police are not surprised by the findings.

``It is a changing world for our officers who are facing increasing aggression from young women,'' Acting Assistant Commissioner Dwayne Bell said.

``These are alarming trends. There is an increase in violent incidents, but what is more disturbing is the greater increase in aggressive anti-social behaviour.

``What is just as alarming is the hidden picture, the anecdotal evidence from my officers of other incidents where the aggressive behaviour of the woman has inflamed a situation.''

Mr Bell said statistics reflected changes in drinking patterns.

``Binge drinking is increasingly prevalent in young females and alcohol-related offences are showing the greatest increases.

``There is a greater propensity to young females binge drinking and being involved in aggressive anti-social behaviour -- and it is our officers who have to face this,'' he said.

Mr Bell said police would back any measures to reduce binge drinking, including abolishing ``happy hours''.

``People have to address these issues and take personal responsibility for their actions,'' he said

Acting executive director of the WA Drug and Alcohol Office Eric Dillon said: ``Recent police data about the number of alcohol-related offences involving women, particularly those involving violence and aggression, is quite disturbing.

``That is why it is so important for parents and the community to work with young people to rethink the way we drink alcohol.

``We don't want young people or anyone else becoming tomorrow's crime statistic. Drinking alcohol has become a firmly entrenched part of our everyday life.

``The problems associated with binge drinking affect us all and the community will need to work together with government to ensure that alcohol is consumed responsibly.

``The Drug and Alcohol Office has launched a hard-hitting campaign asking the whole community to rethink the way that we drink, to reduce the health impacts, violence and injury that drinking too much alcohol can cause.

``Advertising is just one way to connect with young people and change their behaviour.''
Figures from the 2007 National Drug Strategy Household Survey revealed teenage girls were outboozing male counterparts.

Girls aged 14-19 were almost twice as likely as their male counterparts to consume alcohol at a level that was a high risk of long-term harm.