Tara Murray
Crime in Brimbank rose by 2.2 per cent in the 12 months to December, 2020, according to Crime Statistics Agency (CSA) data released last week.
The data released found there were 20,323 crimes in the 12 months to December, up from 19,796 in the previous 12 months.
Stealing from a motor vehicle was the top crime in Brimbank , with 2185 offences occurring in the year to last December.
It overtook other theft as the number one crime in the municipality.
Other theft, breach of a family violence order, public health and safety offences [Covid-19 breaches] and drug possession rounded out the top five.
Police issued 1168 COVID-19-related fines in Brimbank, of which 600 were issued in August alone.
Acting Police Minister Danny Pearson could not say how many of the state’s coronavirus offence fines had been paid but said the state government would pursue unpaid infringements.
“The expectation would be that those fines would be collected, that money would be collected and then the government’s got a range of options available to it in relation to the collection,” he said.
“It was about trying to ensure that people obey the rules … it would be my expectation that people will do the right thing and they’ll pay the fine.”
Family violence offences were up 3.4 per cent on the previous 12 months, with 3002 offences in the 12 months to last December.
Victoria Police Regional Operations Deputy Commissioner Rick Nugent said the spike in family incidents could be attributed to the state’s lockdowns.
“We knew going into the pandemic and with lockdowns, people would be struggling and victims of family violence might not have access to support being locked up at home under those restrictions so as a result, we were very, very active with operation ribbon and other activities to ensure we did all we could to keep them safe,” he said.
St Albans remains the number one location for offences, with crime increasing the past 12 months to December.
Offences were also up in Deer Park, the third highest location for offences, but dropped in Sunshine, Sunshine West and Taylors Lakes, the other suburbs in the top five.
