Alarming spike in family violence as Victoria’s overall crime rate drops

Family violence accounted for an alarming one in five crimes committed in Victoria, as the state’s overall crime rate dropped.

Aneeka Simonis and Brianna Travers

2 min read

June 17, 2021 - 12:25PM

Domestic Violence- Different forms of abuse

Police & Courts

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Victoria’s crime rate has dropped, despite a surge in family violence that accounts for one in 5 crimes committed statewide.

New Crime Statistics Agency figures show 532,271 offences were recorded in the year to March 31 – down 1.8 per cent on last year.

However, family violence-related offending soared by 11.3 per cent, with a record 112,432 offences recorded in the 12-month period.

The increase was primarily driven by breaches of family violence orders (up 18.4 per cent to 53,285 offences) and family violence-related common assaults (up 5.9 per cent to 16,264 offences).

CSA Chief Statistician Fiona Dowsley said: “Victoria has recorded the highest ever number of family incidents and family violence-related criminal offences during this period.”

“The number of family violence-related victim reports has continued to increase, while other types of victim reports decreased over the past 12 months.

“This increase in family violence-related victimisation has been seen for the last three years, reflecting more than pandemic-related impacts.”

Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Rick Nugent said the increase in family violence related crime was “concerning”.

Mr Nugent said despite significant investment into family violence, including an additional 415 dedicated investigators across 31 units across Victoria, more needed to be done.

“Family violence continues to be such a hideous crime,” Mr Nugent said on 3AW Radio.

“We will remain focused on this (family violence) for as long as we need. We have to make sure we get there.”

Mr Nugent said “increased confidence” within the community meant more people were reporting family violence, a partial reason for the huge rise in figures.

“In some ways it is (the message getting through), people are reporting it,” he said.

“But there are still communities within communities that are afraid to report family violence.

“The breaches (of intervention orders) are a lot of proactive work, and repeat offenders.

“We will come across more offences and breaches, in a way it is a good thing, we are holding people to account.”

Another area of concern included home invasions, which were up 8.2 per cent year-on-year.

“That is concerning, that is quite confronting for people in their homes,” Mr Nugent said.

“Part of it (the increase in home invasions) is having so many people at home, working from home. That is a contributing factor.”

Assault, stalking, harassment and drug manufacturing increased during the year.

Whereas crimes such as robbery, burglary and theft dropped, according to CSA figures.

COVID FINES OUTSTANDING

Three in four Victorian COVID rulebreakers who defied health orders throughout the pandemic are yet to pay their fines.

Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Rick Nugent revealed only 25 per cent of the state’s 37,939 COVID-fines issued in the year to March 31 had been paid.

Of those fines, approximately 2000 were reviewed and withdrawn while a further 2000 were taken to court.

“Around 25,000 have defaulted to Fines Victoria that have not been paid,” Mr Nugent said.

Overall police were happy with the reduction in crime, the largest since the Victorian LEAP database was introduced in 1993.

“It is extremely pleasing,” Mr Nugent said.

“We are well aware crime statistics are more than just numbers, many victims who are affected for months, years and sometimes a lifetime. We are committed to keeping people safe.”