Latest crime statistics show increases in offenders and family incidents

MEDIA RELEASE

Embargo: 9:00AM Thursday 18 June 2015

Latest crime statistics show increases in offenders and family incidents

The Crime Statistics Agency has today released its recorded crime statistics for Victoria for the year ending 31 March 2015.

Recorded crime statistics show that there were 458,027 offences recorded by Victoria Police in the year to March 2015, up 1.3% compared to the same period last year.

The crime rate was 7696.5 offences per 100,000 people, a decrease of 0.6%.

There were 69,442 family related incidents recorded, up by 8.2%.

Offender incidents increased 3% from 157,466 in year ending March 2014 to 162,171 in year ending March 2015.

Victim reports made to police have decreased by 3.1% compared to the same period last year, making the victimisation rate 4645.4 per 100,000 population.

Crime Statistics Agency Chief Statistician Fiona Dowsley said that the statistics released this quarter reflected similar trends seen in the previous quarter.

'Stalking, harassment and threatening behaviour and breaches of orders have again seen statistically significant increases this quarter' Ms Dowsley said.

'The Melbourne local government area recorded the highest offence rate per 100,000 population at 25,419.7, but this rate has seen a 4.7 per cent decrease overall compared to the same time last year.'

The Crime Statistics Agency commenced operations on 1 January 2015. The Agency is responsible for processing, analysing and releasing rolling 12-month Victoria Police crime statistics every three months.

Further information, including Local Government Area data, can be found in the latest crime statistics quarterly release, available to download from the CSA website.

For further information please contact:

Brad Petry
Manager, Operations and Development
Phone: 0408 169 338
Email: info@crimestatistics.vic.gov.au (External link)