Worrying spike in family violence across Victoria while crime rate drops overall

Robberies and thefts have decreased in Victoria in the past 12 months, but there has been a concerning increase in family violence.

Victoria’s crime rate has fallen again amid lockdown restrictions, but incidents of family violence have risen.

Victoria’s crime rate has fallen again, with Covid restrictions credited for the drop.

Crime Statistics Agency figures show a 6.9 per cent reduction in criminal incidents recorded statewide in the year to June 30.

Robberies, thefts and burglaries dropped significantly in the 12-month period.

CSA Chief Statistician Fiona Dowsley said the overall drop in crime coincided with Covid related restrictions on movement.

“The volume decrease during this time has been observed largely in the acquisitive and more opportunistic crime types such as thefts,” she said.

However 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. 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.

“It is likely to return. What we found last year (when restrictions eased) is that it didn’t return quickly. It was quite slow in terms of increases to some crime categories.”

The figures showed a significant spike in offending relating to Covid rule breaches and family violence over the 12-month period.

Police issued a total of 32, 561 fines for Covid rule breaches, with criminal charges accompanying two-thirds of the infringements.

Family violence also rose by 5.9 per cent, with a total of 93 440 incidents recorded over the course of the year.

It is the equivalent of 10 incidents per hour, every hour.

“It is a hideous crime and it continues to occur,” Mr Nugent said.

A total of 55, 252 family violence order breaches was also recorded.

Mr Nugent said family violence increased at double the rate in regional Victoria compared to metropolitan Melbourne over the course of the year.

Family violence incidents in regional Victoria rose by 8.9 per cent, compared to Melbourne which recorded a 4.3 per cent rise in incidents.

“Some of the biggest increases in family violence were between October and December, coinciding with easing of restrictions last year,” Mr Nugent said.

“This is when people were able to travel further and leave home for different reasons.”

Mr Nugent added online harassment had contributed to the rise in recorded violence.

“There’s been a significant increase in online harassment. More people are moving to online services to harass partners and former partners,” he said.

Stalking, harassment and threatening behaviour also increased over the 12-month period.

Sexual offending against children also skyrocketed by 44 per cent.

Mr Nugent said police recorded 1002 offences related to child abuse material and online grooming.

The Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (JACET), involving both Victoria Police and AFP, laid more than 1,500 charges against predators in the past year.

“These related to the possession of child abuse material and transmitting and using services to groom children. Most of the offending in this category relates to non-contact offending which is really quite important.”