Victoria records highest level of family violence on record

Family violence offences in Victoria have reached the highest level on record over the past year to the end of March.

Victoria’s Deputy Commissioner of Regional Operations Rick Nugent. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Crosling

Family violence offences in Victoria have reached the highest level on record over the past year to end of March, making up one fifth of all recorded offences.

While the total number of offences fell 1.8 per cent to 532,271, as did the recorded offences rate per 100,000 Victorians to 7950.6, family violence-related offences soared 11.3 per cent to 112,432 offences, the highest figure since records began in 1993.

The Crime Statistics Agency ascribes the increase to a 18.4 per cent spike in breaches of family violence order, up to 53,285 offences, and a climb in the number of family violence-related common assaults, up 5.9 per cent to 16,264 offences.

The state’s rate of family incidents grew 8.3 per cent to 1389.1 per 100,000 with 92,999 incidents recorded.

The number of family incidents that resulted in at least one criminal offence increased 6.3% to 46,782 incidents in the last 12 months.

CSA Chief Statistician Fiona Dowsley said the number of family violence-related victim reports had 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,” she said.

Deputy Commissioner Regional Operations Rick Nugent warned the actual scope of family violence in Victoria may be larger still with under-reporting in many areas and many communities.

One fifth of Victoria’s crime is now family violence related and Deputy Commissioner Nugent said he would love to be able get to the point where he could say victims had total trust to report family violence.

“It’s extremely concerning that it is at the extent it is,” he said.

He said police had been very proactive during the pandemic in relation to family violence with 415 additional family violence investigators appointed and 31 dedicated family violence teams in place.

He said the focus was on reducing family violence-related crimes by holding offenders to account and ensuring victims received the support they needed.

Other key statistics include 37,939 fines for breaching the chief health officer’s directions of which around one-quarter have been paid and about 2000 reviewed and withdrawn.

Victoria’s lengthy lockdowns also contributed to about 44,000 fewer thefts and about 13,000 fewer burglaries including a 30.9 per cent fall in residential burglaries.

In the past year 1500 fewer people were robbed in the street compared to last year, a drop of 37 per cent, and 5500 fewer cars were stolen, a fall of 26 per cent.