Drastic impact of police powers on Victoria’s firearm incidents

The number of gunshot wound victims presenting at Victorian hospitals has almost halved in the past year – but how did police manage such a feat?

The number of gunshot wound victims presenting at Victorian hospitals has almost halved in the past year.

New data from the Victorian Injury Surveillance Unit at Monash University reveals there were just 14 patients with gunshot wounds admitted to the state’s hospitals in 2021-22, compared to 24 the year prior.

This figure has dropped from 42 non-fatal gunshot victims in the 2016-17 financial year.

The stark drop in those presenting at hospital with injuries caused by gunfire coincides with the introduction of Firearm Prohibition Orders in May 2018.

The legislation was designed to give Victoria Police a greater capacity to detect and disrupt those who look to bring harm into the community through the use of illicit firearms.

There are currently 1769 active decade-long bans in place in Victoria, with police targeting known criminals, outlaw motorcycle gang members and the organised crime community and their associates.

The number of gunshot wound victims presenting to Victorian hospitals has almost halved in the past year. Picture: file image

Anyone slapped with a FPO and subsequently is found with a gun can face up to 10 years jail.

Detective Superintendent Jason Kelly, of the Victoria Police crime command, said police were committed to reducing gun violence with specialist squads.

“Illicit firearms related violence is one of the most significant issues we face and it’s something we are particularly tackling through strong enforcement, targeted disruption and a focus on intelligence gathering,” Supt Kelly said.

“While we have been seeing an overall reduction in the number of non-fatal shootings over the past few years, we have seen a small spike in incidents at the start of 2023. “Predominantly, those incidents are occurring between known parties as a result of disputes linked to organised crime groups or serious criminal offending such as drug trafficking.

“More than half of the incidents have been resolved, with charges laid against those responsible. These incidents will remain a focus for police in terms of both investigation into the parties involved but also targeted enforcement of the criminal groups linked to them.”

New data shows just 12 patients were admitted to Victorian hospitals last financial year. Picture: file image

The data also shows those assaulted with firearms were highly likely to be male.

Since 2016, all but 10 of the state’s 172 gunshot wound victims were male.

During this time six people aged between 10 and 19 were shot, while the most represented age group was 25-29 year olds.

Forty people in that age group presented to hospitals with gunshot wounds.

One in five who presented to hospital were injured at home, while a further 13 per cent were shot on a road, street or highway.

Supt Kelly said police were seizing “record numbers” of illegal guns.

“Taking a firearm out of the hands of a criminal and making illicit firearms more difficult to obtain are some of the most effective ways of preventing future offending and increasing public safety,” he said.

“Where firearms are involved, it’s often only millimetres that separate a non fatal shooting from a murder.”