‘Pretty sure someone warned to government about this back in 2022 and was rubbished’: Judd

Brighton WAG Bec Judd warned the state government Bayside crime was rising to dangerous levels in 2022 and “was rubbished”, but shock, new statistics have proven the influencer right.

Bec Judd was right about the rise in Brighton crime. Picture: Supplied

Shocking crime trends plaguing Melbourne’s bayside suburbs are again in the spotlight after the area recorded a 16.7 per cent spike in crime last year.

There was an average of 16 criminal incidents recorded in the bayside local government area every day in 2023, with Brighton named as the hardest hit suburb.

Offenders stealing from vehicles and those causing criminal damage were responsible for over 1370 incidents — with most of those occurring at a residential house.

Brighton, Brighton East and Hampton rounded out the top three most affected bayside suburbs.

Alarmingly, there was also a 12 per cent jump in the number of alleged property and deception offences in Brighton alone, which include burglaries that have left residents in fear.

That number increased to 24 per cent when accounting for the whole bayside area.

More than 63 per cent of crimes committed in bayside remain unsolved.

Bec Judd with her Rhodesian ridgeback in Brighton.

Bec Judd warned the government about the rise in crime. Picture: Instagram

Police have previously confirmed a 43 per cent increase in aggravated burglaries in the area, largely driven by teens hunting luxury cars for a brief joy ride.

That figure prompted influencer and Brighton resident Bec Judd — who continues to call out the state government’s inaction — to once again take aim.

“Pretty sure someone warned to government about this back in 2022 and was rubbished,” she posted to Instagram, referencing Dan Andrews shutting down her previous complaints.

“They didn’t care then and they don’t care now. This is a Victorian-wide issue, not just Bayside.”

Ms Judd last month took another swing at the state government after the Herald Sun revealed a hardcore group of 80 repeat youth offenders had been arrested more than 10 times each.

“Victoria Police are doing their job. The justice system and state government are not,” she said at the time.

“Jacinta Allan stays quiet while we wonder if a gang of machete wielding youths are going to invade our homes while our children sleep.

“Lock bail offenders up. Ban machetes and other weapons. There’s a start.”

Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner of regional operations Neil Paterson on Thursday said his officers were fed up with Victoria’s lenient youth bail laws as he revealed the latest figures.

“Police are frustrated, when I’m speaking to our police on the front line, they have expressed frustration with the number of young child offenders that they’re seeing time and time again, they’re arresting time and time again,” he said.

The overall crime data across the state showed youth offenders were of the biggest concern, with crimes committed by 14 to 17 year olds jumping by almost 30 per cent.