Victoria Police has today published its 2012/2013 annual crime statistics.
The statistics compare the 12 months to June 2013 with the 12 months to June 2012.
The overall recorded crime rate across the state has increased by 1.6 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 3.4 per cent (up 13,479 offences to a total of 406,497 offences).
Crime against the person has increased by 5.3 per cent per 100,000 population (or up 3903 offences to a total of 58,312 offences). This includes increases in: • abduction/ kidnap (up 12.5 per cent) • assault (up 8 per cent) • homicide (up 4.7 per cent) • sex (non rape) (up 0.6 per cent).
Robberies have however decreased by 15.7 per cent and rape has decreased by 4.8 per cent.
Crime against property has decreased by 3 per cent as a rate per 100,000 population (or down 3294 offences to a total of 263,577 offences). This includes decreases in: • theft from motor vehicle (down 9.6 per cent) • property damage (down 8.5 per cent) • theft of motor vehicle (down 7.9 per cent) • residential burglary (down 2.8 per cent).
Deception has however increased by 10.2 per cent, theft of bicycles is up 9.4 per cent and handling stolen goods is up 8 per cent.
Drug offences have increased by 12 per cent as a rate per 100,000 population (or up 2631 offences to a total of 21,469 offences).
Other crime such as weapons/ explosives, harassment and going equipped to steal, have increased by 17.3 per cent as a rate per 100,000 population (or up 10,239 offences to a total of 63,139 offences).
In releasing the latest statistics today, Chief Commissioner Ken Lay said despite two consecutive years of crime rates increasing, the 2012/13 rate was still significantly lower than in past years.
Over the last 10 years, while Victoria’s population has grown by 15.9 per cent, the crime rate has decreased by a total of 12 per cent (rates per 100,000 population). When looking at the raw numbers, the number of offences recorded has only increased by 1.9 per cent.
But Mr Lay said the latest statistics showed that the increase in crime against the person was still being primarily driven by a rise in family violence-related crime.
“Offences arising from family violence incidents accounted for more than a third of all crime against the person offences over the past year,” he said.
“We know that family violence related crime is significantly impacting on our crime statistics. Over the past 10 years, family violence related crime against the person has increased by nearly 400 per cent. This is mainly due to increase in assaults.
“We don’t think we’ve seen the extent that this horrible crime is having on our community. While we know changes to the way police respond to and record family violence incidents, as well as greater community confidence to report these matters, is pushing up these figures, it’s alarming that such a high volume of crime is being committed in the home and that people are at risk in their own homes.”
Mr Lay said there were encouraging signs in the reduction of robberies and also in the crime against property categories, with police operations targeting recidivism and high volume crimes such as theft of motor vehicles and property damage, particularly in the north west metro region.
He said some key concerns remained for Victoria Police, including: – The increase in the use of amphetamine-type stimulants – The increase in non family violence assaults – however there are less serious injuries being reported and more recorded in the non-injury and threats categories – The continued use of knives during assaults, and while only small numbers, the increase of firearms involved in assaults.
Other key statistics coming out of today’s release include: – There were 60,829 family incident reports submitted by police, 21.6 per cent higher than 2011/12. Offences related to family incidents, such as assaults and abduction/ kidnap, have risen as a result of this increased reporting. – Victoria Police processed 12.2 per cent more offenders.
The annual statistics can be viewed at www.police.vic.gov.au