Victoria Police has today published its latest crime statistics.

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

The overall recorded crime rate across the state has increased by 1.2 per cent, measured as a rate per 100,000 of the population which is standard acrossAustralia. The total number of offences recorded is up by 3.1 per cent (up 12,607 offences to a total of 420,719 offences).

Crime against the person has increased by 0.6 per cent as a rate per 100,000 population. This is mostly due to an increase in the rate of assaults, up 1.4 per cent. Robbery is down 15.4 per cent, and assault excluding family violence is down 2.9 per cent.

Crime against property has decreased by 2.6 per cent as a rate per 100,000 population, with theft of motor vehicle down 8.9 per cent, theft from motor vehicle down 7.5 per cent, and residential burglaries down 6.9 per cent.

Drug offences have increased by 12.3 per cent as a rate per 100,000 population.

Other crimes have increased by 15.5 per cent as a rate per 100,000 population, with the main driver being offences such as breaches in intervention orders.

Deputy Commissioner Lucinda Nolan said the primary drivers for the rise in crime rates were drug offences and other crime such as justice procedures offences, in particular breaches in intervention orders.

However, crime against property offences, which makes up the majority of crime in the state, continues to drop. This includes property damage, burglary and theft from and 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 http://www.vicpolicenews.com.au/my-place