New crime data shows reported family violence incidents increased
Family violence incidents have reached the highest number on record, alarming new data from Victoria’s Crime Statistics Agency shows.
Police & Courts
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Crime has risen significantly in Victoria, close to 5 per cent year-on-year.
The latest data released by the Crime Statistics Agency this morning shows the number of criminal incidents recorded by police in the year to December 31 was 403,807 — up 4.6 per cent on the previous 12 months.
Offence numbers also rose 4.7 per cent to 536,690, up from 512,386 offences the year prior.
Alarmingly, family related incidents increased 6.6 per cent in the last year.
This is the highest figure on record, with 84,550 incidents being logged with police up from 79,342.
Victim reports were up 5.6 per cent, with police attributing this to the introduction of the Police Assistance Line last year.
A total of 317,675 Victorians made a victim report in 2019.
Melbourne, Latrobe, Yarra, Mildura and Greater Shepparton were the local government areas which recorded the highest criminal incident figures.
Crimes trending upwards were robbery, stalking, harassment and threatening behaviour, theft and drug use and possession.
Offences which showed a significant drop included dangerous and negligent acts endangering people and disorderly and offensive conduct.
Deputy Commissioner Wendy Steendam said police acknowledged “real people” suffered as a result of the rise in crime.
“We are concerned with any rise in crime,” Ms Steendam said.
“We cannot be complacent and wait for crimes to be committed. That is why we are closely monitoring persons of interest and make no apologies for this.
“Our predominant focus remains on disrupting and preventing high harm and high impact crimes such as carjackings, home invasions and swarming.”
However carjackings rose by more than 60 offences in 2019, compared to the year prior.
Swarmings had dropped slightly by 15 offences, to a total of 51.
Victoria Police said in the past year they had processed more offenders than ever before.
In 2019 police processed 180,456 offenders which was up 6.2 per cent on the previous year.
Minister for Police Lisa Neville said she felt “confident to turn this around” and get on top of the recorded increase in crime.
“Any crime has an impact and we want to bring it down as low as possible,” Ms Neville said.
“I feel confident we have the strategies, but I am concerned.”
Ms Neville said the onslaught of COVID-19 may change policing in the next 12 months.
“The fact that unfortunately police are having to do patrols of supermarkets, who would have thought we would have been in that position where people going about their shopping and there is anti-social behaviour,” she said.
“We are in different, unprecedented times, police will change some of their processes in order to meet the needs (of the community).”
Minister Neville said most Victorians had been obedient following mandatory self-isolation policies and mass gatherings.
“Most people are doing the right thing,” Ms Neville said.
“Victorians are taking action themselves in restaurants and bars, numbers are right down. I am hopeful police don’t need to do too much of it.
“The clear message is police have the power to arrest, detain, intervene, disrupt and disperse if that is required. If necessary police will use their powers.”
The state opposition said it was concerning youth crime continued to rise.
“This is now the largest number of alleged incidents for crimes against the person by age cohort ever recorded,” a spokesman said.
Offenders aged 15-19 years old were responsible for 7697 alleged incidents in the Crimes Against the Person category.
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