The crime rate has increased for the third year in a row, fuelled by family violence and drug-related offending, prompting Chief Commissioner Ken Lay to again urge a move away from traditional policing.
Crime increased by 37 per cent in 2013-14, as a rate per 100,000 people, with an increase of 18.7 per cent in handling stolen goods offences, 16 per cent in deception offences, increases of about 10 per cent in theft of and from motor vehicle offences and a 7.5 per cent jump in sex offences (non-rape).
Crime against the person has risen by 0.2 per cent, with crime against property increasing by 0.7 per cent.
Arson, theft and abduction offences all dropped by more than 10 per cent.
Mr Lay said the main drivers behind the increase were family violence, drugs and crimes that fall into the ‘other’ category such as weapons or explosives offences and justice procedures.
There was an increase in family violence-related assaults (up 6.2 per cent), but non family violence-related assaults decreased (down 1.8 per cent).
He said a quarter of Victoria’s crime over the past financial year could be contributed to family violence and detected crimes such as drug use and possession.
“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.
“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.”
Fairfax Media reported on Tuesday that the latest salvo between Mr Lay’s office and the Police Association involved trial rosters in several regional stations, as Police Minister Kim Wells ordered a review into similar changes on the Bellarine Peninsula. Mr Wells said the review would allow Bellarine locals to have their say, despite force command saying repeatedly that the community had been consulted.
Mr Lay said the latest figures showed 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.”
