Data reveals where crimes occur in and around schools in Victoria

Victoria’s most dangerous school zones have been revealed, with crime soaring by more than 300 per cent in one area. Find out what the stats are in your area.

School crime rates have dropped since 2019, however in some areas the problem is growing.

Crime in some of Victoria’s southeastern schools has soared by more than 300 per cent, new data has revealed.

According to new data released by the Crime Statistics Agency, South Gippsland saw a massive increase in crime in and around schools in the year ending December 2022, compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Ballarat also saw an increase of about 50 per cent in criminal incidents on school grounds from 2019 to 2022.

New data has revealed the areas with the most schoolyard crime, with the local government area of Melbourne again being the area with the most incidents recorded on school or educational grounds.

Crimes committed at school, on school grounds and educational facilities according to Crime Statistics Agency is at its highest in Melbourne with 590 incidents being recorded last year, higher than any year in the past 10.

Removing educational facilities, which includes places like universities, there were 328 offences recorded at schools and on school grounds alone in Melbourne.

This was the most in the state, in part due to Melbourne being one of the most school dense LGAs in Victoria.

In total there were just fewer than 5000 incidents for the year ending December 2022, committed at schools or on school grounds — the number down by about 10 per cent compared to 2019, before schools were thrown into lockdown and kids were learning from home.

Hindmarsh LGA, in the state’s west, was the lowest with only two incidents recorded.

Crimes committed at school, on school grounds and educational facilities according to Crime Statistics Agency is at its highest in Melbourne with 590 incidents being recorded last year, higher than any year in the past 10.

The data covers both primary and secondary facilities and includes crimes committed by students during school hours and those carried out by third-parties outside school hours such as burglaries.

Wyndham and Casey also both came out with high numbers, 270 and 239 incidents respectively.

In 2019, before lockdowns forced students out of schools, Wyndham recorded just 191 incidents, an increase of over 40 per cent.

But, unlike Wyndham numbers in Casey have fallen post Covid with almost a 26 per cent decrease.

Greater Bendigo also saw a decrease in crime on school grounds from 2019 to 2022 recording a 57 percent drop.

In regional areas offence numbers mostly stuck below 100 with a few exceptions.

Ballarat, Greater Bendigo, Greater Geelong, Latrobe, Mornington Peninsula, and Wellington all had offences at schools and on school grounds of more than 100, with Greater Geelong having the most of the group with 171 offences.

Wodonga’s crime on school grounds rose from 107 per cent from 2019 to 2022.

Greater Dandenong saw an increase of 118 per cent in crimes committed on school grounds between 2019 and 2022 but a fall of 42 per cent in crimes committed in school.

Macedon Ranges also saw one of the biggest increases in crime on school grounds with a 114 per cent increase (2019 compared to 2022).

Fights at schools are making headlines almost weekly.

Fights at schools are making headlines almost weekly.

Earlier this month a Camberwell Grammar student was arrested after a brutal schoolyard fight that left teachers and students shocked.

Back in February a student was stabbed at a school in Reservoir, and last month it was revealed hundreds of students across Melbourne’s southeast were caught up in a “fight club craze” where videos were posted online of kids being beaten up.

In September 2022 it was revealed schools had been spending thousands of dollars on security to stop violent outbursts from students.

A school in Shepparton reportedly confiscated at least four knives from students in one day last year and allegations emerged there were drugs being sold on the grounds of an elite private school.

Shepparton schools made the headlines repeatedly over the past 12 months but in 2022 crime rates in school were down 37 percent from 2019.

When asked about the state of crime in schools police told the Herald Sun police would “respond to crimes committed on school grounds in the same manner they would in any other location”.

The Department of Education said all government schools were supported through a centrally managed security system to help manage crime on school grounds.

“This is including 24/7 alarm monitoring and CCTV coverage,” a spokesman said.

“Any after-hours alarms are responded to either by security contractors or police”.