Victoria Police has today published its 2013/2014 annual crime statistics.

The statistics compare the 12 months to June 2014 with the 12 months to June 2013.

The overall recorded crime rate across the state has increased by 3.7 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 5.7 per cent (up 23,217 offences to a total of 433,718 offences).

Crime against the person has risen by 0.2 per cent per 100,000 population (or up 1205 offences to a total of 59,907 offences).

This includes increases in:

• sex (non rape) (up 7.5 per cent)

• rape (up 1.8 per cent)

Decreases have been seen in:

• abduction/kidnapping (down 10.5 per cent)

• robberies (down 10.2 per cent)

• homicide (down 6.9 per cent)

• assault (down 0.2 per cent)

Crime against property has increased by 0.7 per cent as a rate per 100,000 population (or up 6897 offences to a total of 273,413 offences). This includes increases in:

• handle stolen goods (up 18.7 per cent)

• deception (up 16 per cent)

• theft from motor vehicle (up 10.8 per cent)

• theft of motor vehicle (up 9.2 per cent)

• theft of bicycles (up by 5.4 per cent)

Decreases have been seen in:

• arson (down 16.6 per cent)

• theft (other) (down 11.5 per cent)

• property damage (down 5.4 per cent)

• aggravated burglaries (down 4.7 per cent)

• residential burglaries (down 3.1 per cent)

Drug offences have increased by 6.5 per cent as a rate per 100,000 population (or up 1849 offences to a total of 23,444 offences).

Other crime such as weapons/explosives offences, justice procedures (eg intervention order breaches, bail offences) and harassment have increased by 18.6 per cent as a rate per 100,000 population (or up 13,266 offences to a total of 76,954).

Chief Commissioner Ken Lay said the main drivers behind this year’s increase were family violence, drug offences and crimes that fall into the ‘other’ category such as weapons/explosives offences and justice procedures.

He said a quarter of Victoria’s crime over the past financial year could be contributed to family violence incidents and detected crimes such as drug use and possession.

Family violence incidents equated for more than 40 per cent of crime against the person offences – up by 5.7 per cent – significantly driving up the number of reported offences in the categories of assault, rape and sex (non rape).

While there was an increase in family violence-related assaults (up 6.2 per cent), Mr Lay said the data showed there has been a decrease in non family violence-related assaults (down 1.8 per cent).

Mr Lay said there had also been a rise in motor vehicle thefts of 9.2 per cent.

“While many cars are still being stolen by joyriders, we’re seeing an increase in the number of cars that we aren’t finding. We suspect these vehicles are being taken by criminal groups to make money by selling them to scrap metal yards. We’re working closely with stakeholders to advocate key reforms to address this emerging issue.”

Following three consecutive years of increased crime rates, Mr Lay said it was time for police to re-evaluate how crime should be policed in Victoria.

“While the traditional model of policing is serving us well in pushing down crime in areas such as robberies, burglaries and theft, we need to look at a new way to address emerging crime trends,” he said.

“It’s important Victoria Police becomes a flexible organisation, ready to dedicate specialist resources to emerging issues such as organised crime, our community’s battle with ICE, cyber crime, historical sex abuse and deceptions.

“For example, following the parliamentary inquiry into historical sexual abuse a large number of victims came forward which resulted in the formulation of Sano Taskforce. This has lead to an increase in sexual offence reporting, including a large number of historical sexual abuse, which is reflected in this year’s data.

“We’re really seeing a flow on affect as victims of this horrendous crime feel more comfortable to report these matters to police, confident they will be investigated no matter how much time has passed,” he said.

“The crime landscape is changing and Victoria Police needs to evolve with it to ensure we keep up with things such as rapidly changing technology which has resulted in new ways of committing crime as well as new types of crime.

“These issues will continue to be a challenge for us into the future.”

The annual statistics can be viewed at www.police.vic.gov.au

Alongside the annual statistics, Victoria Police published its statistics by Police Service Area (PSA). Updated quarterly, local area commanders in charge of each PSA have provided written commentary accompanying the statistics. To view them visit My Place at www.vicpolicenews.com.au/myplace