Queensland crime rates on the increase

Queensland has had the highest increase in criminal offenders of any state or territory in the past year, according to the latest figures.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics data show Queensland's total number of offenders increased by 5256 people from 2013-14 to 2014-15.

While Western Australia's seven per cent increase in offenders was slightly higher proportionately than Queensland's, which only rose by six per cent, WA only had 2263 extra offenders in the same time period.

Queensland's offender rate increase of four per cent - to 2439 offenders per 100,000 persons aged 10 years or over - was also the highest of any state or territory.

In total Queensland had just under a quarter of all offenders in Australia last financial year, a total of 100,294 offenders.

Illicit drug offences, public order offences and theft were all major problems for Queensland.

Illicit drug offences increased for the fourth consecutive year to 27,015 offenders, contributing to a 71 per cent increase since 2010-11.

The state also had the second-highest repeat offender rate, behind the Northern Territory, with more than a third of offenders proceeded against on two or more separate occasions within the year.

While Queensland's overall population who identify as being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent sits at four per cent, 19 per cent of offenders were of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent.