Victoria Police has today published its latest crime statistics.

The statistics compare the 12 months to March 2013 with the 12 months to March 2012.

The overall recorded crime rate across the state has increased by 3.8 per cent, measured as a rate per 100,000 of the population which is standard across Australia.

The total number of offences recorded is up by 5.6 per cent (up 21,347 offences to a total of 403,618 offences). Crime against the person has increased by 7.4 per cent per 100,000 population. This is largely due to an increase in the rate of assaults, up 11.9 per cent.

Robbery is down 14.3 per cent. Crime against property has decreased by 0.4 per cent as a rate per 100,000 population, mainly due to declines in property damage (down 5.6 per cent) and theft from motor vehicle (down 4.4 per cent).

Residential burglaries are up 1.2 per cent and theft of motor vehicles has increased by 2.5 per cent.

Drug offences have increased by 12.7 per cent as a rate per 100,000 population. Other crimes, which include justice procedures, weapons/explosives and behaviour in public offences, have increased by 18.7 per cent as a rate per 100,000 population.

Deputy Commissioner Lucinda Nolan said family violence related crime continued to drive up the overall statistics. Ms Nolan also attributed the increase in statistics to more detected crime such as drug offences and behaviour in public offences.

“Total crime is still increasing. This is still a concern to us, especially with family violence related offences accounting for 38.6 per cent of crime against the person,” Ms Nolan said. “But having said that, we take some satisfaction from knowing the rate of increase has slowed since last quarter and we’re trending in the right direction, especially around robberies, property damage and theft of motor vehicles.”

The local area commanders in charge of each police service area have provided a written commentary accompanying the statistics. To view them visit My Place at www.vicpolicenews.com.au/myplace