KID CRIMS RUN AMOK

Youth behind 40 per cent of offences Murder, assault and sex attacks surge Police cells, courts struggle to cope

YOUTH offenders are responsible for almost half of all crimes committed in the Geelong region.

The latest Crime Statistics Agency data shows there was a 2.1 per cent rise for the year ending March 31 in Greater Geelong. Youth offending and drug activities were key drivers behind the increase.

“Youth offending in the Greater Geelong area contributes to around 40 per cent of our total reported crime — horrific figures,” said Geelong police chief Superintendent Craig Gillard.

“Breaking the cycle of offending by this cohort of youth is our greatest challenge, but any impact in this area will add significant social value to this wonderful place in which we live, not to mention to the lives of our youth.”

The statistics show police are arresting more offenders than ever as the region battled with almost 23,000 reported crimes in the past 12 months.

Increasing were homicides, with seven cases in the 12 months, assault was up 17.8 per cent and sex offences were up 36.2 per cent.

The region also saw rises in weapons offences by 43.8 per cent and drug offences were up 31.8 per cent.

Suburbs with the greatest crime rises were Drysdale and Mount Duneed — both up 57.1 per cent — Clifton Springs up 30.5 per cent and Manifold Heights up 30.9 per cent.

The areas where the most crime had been reported were Geelong itself, followed by Corio, Norlane, Belmont and Lara.

Norlane, though, experienced significant declines in some categories.

Cases of robbery and drug dealing were slashed by more than 50 per cent.

Local police said investment in new technology and a tougher approach to criminals — alongside help from the community to make teen crooks accountable — was bearing fruit in arrests.

Reported burglaries dropped by 2.5 per cent in the past year alongside deceptions, down 15.4 per cent, and public nuisance offences were down 23.5 per cent.

There were also 2109 court order breaches — a 6.5 per cent rise.

Supt Gillard said although some offences had increased, the region’s crime rate as a whole was “plateauing” with the 2.1 per cent rise half the statewide 4.1 per cent surge.

“I make no apologies for our continued hard approach to those breaking the law and committing offences which impact negatively upon others in the community. Those who commit crime make a conscious decision to do so,” he said.

The Bellarine Peninsula saw some of the highest percentage increases in crime with Drysdale up 57.1 per cent and Clifton Springs up 30.5 per cent.

Barwon Heads also rose 15.3 per cent while Ocean Grove dropped by 4.4 per cent.

On the Surf Coast, crime dropped 19.9 per cent.

Minister for Police Lisa Neville said the figures showed that police were making more arrests than ever before.

“My focus is working with police to drive down the harm in the Geelong community and give the police the resources and tools they need,” she said.

“As both the local Member for Bellarine and the Minister for Police I will do everything I can, looking forward, to make the people of Geelong safer in their homes and in the community.”

Opposition community safety spokesman Edward O’Donohue called for the State Government to urgently adopt the Liberal Nationals’ mandatory sentencing policy.

“Until this Premier starts to put the rights of innocent Victorians before the rights of violent criminals, we will not see any decline in violent crime rates,” he said.

“Claims by Police Minister Lisa Neville that the crime statistics released today are positive shows just how out of touch with the expectations of the community she has become.”