Crime on the rise in Victoria with an increase in child offenders
New data has revealed that crime rates have risen in Victoria, with increasing rates of offending by children as young as 10 who are involved in ‘serious and violent crimes’.
Crime is on the rise in Victoria with child offenders as young as 10 presenting the “greatest area of concern for police given their increasing rates of offending and involvement in serious and violent crimes.”
523,523 criminal offences were recorded in Victoria in 2023, up 8.4 per cent from 2022, new data from the Crime Statistics Agency reveals.
Between 2022 and 2023, the rate of offending by teenagers aged between 14 and 17 jumped by almost 30 per cent to 18,729 crimes, the highest figure for that age group since 2009.
Their offending in 2023 was also more serious than in 2022, with 14 to 17 year olds more frequently involved in crimes against a person, assaults, burglaries, car thefts and robberies.
Crimes committed by younger children aged 10 to 13 were up by 22.5 per cent in 2023 to 3,254 crimes, the highest yearly number for that age range since 2010.
Children aged 10 and 11 were behind 402 crimes in 2023, up 65.4 per cent from 2022.
One in five children who committed a crime was a repeat offender, with 1,589 children committing three or more offences in 2023, up 19% from 2022.
The jump in youth crime rates comes amid plans by the Victorian Government to raise the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 12 this year.
There are reports the Government’s plans to subsequently raise the age further to 14 by 2027 may be under threat.
When asked if Victoria Police supported raising the age of criminal responsibility, Deputy Commissioner Regional Operations Neil Paterson said:
“In the context of 10 and 11 year olds, this is a much smaller cohort of people, and whilst there are some young, very complex offenders within that age group, it’s something that we can probably live with, once we see a proper funded and resourced alternative service model come into place that is going to support those 10 and 11 year olds post the raising of the age of criminal responsibility.”
“Victoria Police is on the record that we don’t support raising the age beyond that,” he said.
“We are seeing, in 12 and 13 year olds, some significant offending out there at the moment.
“Child and youth offending remains a real challenge for us here in Victoria and a significant driver of serious and violent crime in Victoria.”
Overall, the data revealed that across all age groups, property and deception offences had the greatest increase between 2022 and 2023, up 16% to 290,164 offences, driven by a rise in theft offences and stealing from motor vehicles.
Amid a cost-of-living crisis, shoplifting was another top offence in Victoria in 2023, with 28,174 offences, up 7,865 from 2022.
Deputy Commissioner Regional Operations Neil Paterson said rising inflation and cost of living pressures were linked to the increase, with as many as 40 per cent of shoplifters first time offenders.
“This remains the offence that has consistently risen over recent quarters, driven predominantly by theft from retail stores of items such as liquor, groceries and clothing,” he said.
When asked on Thursday whether the spike in crime in was of concern, Victorian Police Minister Anthony Carbines said:
“The Allan Government’s number one priority is community safety and I’m pleased to see Victoria Police are working very hard to hold offenders to account, making more arrests than ever before.”
Minister Carbines said Victoria Police had the resources to “clamp down” on youth offending, and that it was a challenge across other jurisdictions, and not just Victoria.
“The same story is applying in New South Wales, in Queensland, and other states,” he said.
“Youth crime is certainly the significant target of police operations and resources at this time.
“The stats are pretty clear, Victoria Police is making those arrests and bringing them [youth offenders] before the court.”
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