Family violence: Incidents rise in Whitehorse, Maroondah and Manningham

Crime has generally dropped across Melbourne’s east, but there has been a worrying rise in one category the latest stats show.

Family violence offences increased in the 12 months to June 2021 in three parts of Melbourne’s east, according to the latest crime figures. File picture.

Family violence has increased in parts of Melbourne’s east in the space of 12 months, with 100 or more incidents recorded in each of Manningham, Whitehorse and Maroondah.

According to the latest Crime Statistics Agency data, released on Thursday, there was at least a 7.7 per cent increase in reported offences in each LGA in the 12 months to June 2021.

Whitehorse had the highest increase of reported family violence incidents with 1461 offences, 160 more than the 1301 recorded for the 12 months to June 2020, a rise of 12.3 per cent.

Manningham recorded the highest percentage increase of 19.8 per cent with 915 compared to 754 incidents in the 12 months prior.

Maroondah recorded a 7.7 per cent increase and 100 more incidents in the past 12 months, with 1406 offences.

All three municipalities’ reported family violence rates were higher than the average metro Melbourne rise of 4.3 per cent.

Crime was down overall across all three municipalities, with Whitehorse and Manningham recording bigger drops than the state average of 6.9 per cent.

Whitehorse had a 10.2 per cent drop and Manningham recorded a 7.3 per cent decrease, while crime was also down in Maroondah by 3.1 per cent.

Thefts from cars remained the most common offence in each of the three areas, but also with less offences recorded.

Whitehorse had the biggest drop in thefts from cars in the 12 month period, with 413 less break-ins recorded, a 27 per cent drop.

CSA chief statistician Fiona Dowsley accredited Covid-19 restrictions on movement to the overall drop in crime across the state.

But Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Rick Nugent warned crime would likely increase to pre-pandemic levels once restrictions are eventually eased.

“(A drop in crime) is to be expected in lockdown,” Mr Nugent said.

“You have people that aren’t able to move around so you have less victim opportunities and less opportunistic crime committed because people are in their homes and their car is parked at home,” he said.

Inner east support service Orange Door provides assistance to family violence victims across Boroondara, Whitehorse and Manningham on behalf of Family Safety Victoria.

A FSV spokeswoman said the organisation felt reporting of family violence incidents was rising before the Covid-19 pandemic began and would continue to increase.

“The trend of rising family violence reporting started prior to the pandemic, in part due to greater awareness of family violence and increased access to support following Victoria’s Royal Commission into family violence,” the spokeswoman said.

“It is expected to continue as reporting rates more accurately reflect the levels of family violence in our community.”