Victorian crime statistics: Robberies rise by 25 per cent
VICTORIAN crime rates have soared over the past year despite promises of a statewide crackdown by police chiefs and Premier Daniel Andrews.
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VICTORIAN crime rates have soared over the past year despite promises of a statewide crackdown by police chiefs and Premier Daniel Andrews.
New statistics reveal crime across the state has soared by 10.2 per cent in the last year.
But the State Government and police say they are getting on top of crime with the crime rate increasing only 0.1 per cent in the last quarter.
The statistics released today show aggravated burglary offences jumped 40 per cent compared with the previous year with around 4200 recorded, although police stressed only 1 per cent were violent.
Robberies have climbed 25 per cent as offenders become increasingly brazen and willing to confront their victims.
Break-ins and thefts of cars also continued to plague police.
But Victoria Police and the State Government pointed to a mere 0.1 per cent increase in the crime rate over the last quarter, compared with the previous three months, as hope grows that the problem is slowing.
Robbery fell 6 per cent over this period, theft from cars dipped 10 per cent and theft of cars declined 2 per cent.
Police Minister Lisa Neville said the signs were good but more work was needed.
“By no means have we done the job — there is a long way to go,” Ms Neville said.
“It’s not sugar coating. We are seeing some positives. The trend is heading in the right way and we’re going to continue to monitor it, we’re going to continue to roll out whatever powers and resources we need to do get on top of this so that Victorians feel safe.
“The game is not over, the fight, the war on this is not over.”
Premier Daniel Andrews said in some areas crime rates were stabilising and the government’s recruitment of 3000 police would provide more support to address the situation.
“We know there was a six or seven year trend in terms of crime across our state,” Mr Andrews said.
“That’s why it’s critically important we give to the Chief Commissioner the resources, the tools and powers he needs and that’s what we’re doing.
“In some critical areas, we’re seeing that trend stabilise and in fact get better.
“I’m not for a moment crowing about that — we’re seeing all the hard work that Victoria Police are doing, with the strong support of the government, starting to have a significant impact, but there is much more to do of course.”
Police revealed more than 450 people, many of them youths, had now been arrested as part of an operation targeting highly violent crimes including home invasions and car jackings.
Overall youth offenders continued to decline but older crook numbers rose.
Nine aggravated carjackings and one aggravated home invasion offences were recorded in the three weeks since new laws making them a specific crime with harsher penalties were introduced on December 7 last year.
Overall burglary was up 10 per cent in the year, car theft was up 27 per cent with almost a third of cars on sold or rebirthed and theft from cars rose 26 per cent with numberplates a prime target.
There were more than 4000 offences for handling stolen goods.
Deputy Commissioner Andrew Crisp said: “Car jackings and home invasions continue to cause us some concern.”
“Our members are very, very focused on actually turning around that particular type of offending.
“We are locking up these people very, very quickly and we know that we are seeing significantly more of people committing these offences being remanded in custody.”
Mr Crisp credited old school policing with the recent flatlining of crime.
Arrest numbers have climbed 15 per cent to a new high.
“It’s the back to basics policing for us,” he said.
“It’s about targeting those high-risk recidivist offenders.
“It’s really paying dividends at the moment.
“Our members have never worked harder.
“They are actually doing a great job out there on the street.
“Victoria Police never has been and never will be soft on crime.”
Melbourne, Latrobe and Yarra were the regions with the highest rates of crime, with the Latrobe area recording a nearly 9 per cent rise.
Almost half of all offenders were aged between 20 and 34, with this age group making up 46 per cent of all offender incidents in the year to December.
Crime Statistics Agency Chief Statistician Fiona Dowsley said that while property and deception offences overall have increased in the last 12 months, most of this increase is due to more theft offences.
“Our analysis shows that more than one third of all recorded offences in Victoria are theft related,” Ms Dowsley said.
“The increase in thefts are driven by increases in motor vehicle theft and thefts from motor vehicles, with these offences making up nearly half of all theft offences.”
Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said only Daniel Andrew would think a yearly 10 per cent increase on crime was a good result.
“Victoria has a problem with crime that no other state in Australia has,” Mr Guy said.
“12 months ago Daniel Andrews said he would smash these youth gangs and 12 months later they are running rampant and wil on our streets.”
Mr Guy said he was especially concerned with the increase in violent crimes against the person and theft.
Local Government Area level figures for year ending December 2016
The five Local Government Areas with the highest offence rates were:
1. Melbourne (27,299.4 offences per 100,000 estimated resident population, up 5.0%)
2. Latrobe (19,725.9 offences per 100,000 estimated resident population, up 8.9%)
3. Yarra (15,232.3 offences per 100,000 estimated resident population, up 3.5%)
4. Horsham (14,336.7 offences per 100,000 estimated resident population, down 7.2%)
5. Greater Dandenong (13,332.4 offences per 100,000 estimated resident population, up 3.4%)
Offence trends
Between the year ending December 2015 and 2016, the major offence categories that showed the highest significant upward trends were:
· Justice procedures offences (up 51.6% from 9,158 to 13,883)
· Transport regulation offences (up 43.3% from 487 to 698)
· Robbery (up 24.4% from 2,572 to 3,200)
· Dangerous and negligent acts endangering people (up 22.3% from 4,795 to 5,863)
· Theft offences (up 15.9% from 165,466 to 191,717)
· Assault and related offences (up 11.8% from 38,881 to 43,478)
· Breaches of orders (up 10.6% from 52,928 to 58,563)
· Burglary/break and enter (up 10.1% from 49,722 to 54,745)
· Drug use and possession offences (up 6.9% from 23,010 to 24,594)