Big fall in crime numbers

VICTORIA will today post its biggest annual crime drop in more than a decade after a dramatic turnaround in car theft and burglary.

But robbery and sex offences remain on the rise.

News Corp can reveal Crime Statistics Agency figures will show the crime rate and number of offences in the year to September fell compared with the previous 12 months.

They are the most significant decreases since 2005.

Family violence incidents fell for the first time in five years.

Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Andrew Crisp said weekly intelligence showed crime improvements had continued but the force was not resting on its laurels.

“This is only the start of it,’’ Mr Crisp said.

“We have come some way but we know there is still a long way to go.”

Crime was stable or fell in all but three of Victoria’s 79 council areas.

Falls in volume crime such as car theft, theft from cars and burglary helped push down the statewide crime figure.

Aggravated burglary, break-and-enter, property damage, theft, arson and justice procedure offences — which include custody escapes, failure to face court and resisting or hindering an officer — also dropped.

Carjackings and home inva- sions, made specific offences in December, trended down.

Robbery, dangerous and negligent acts, deception, sex offences and public order and security offences including terrorism were up.

Strangers meeting via dating apps and trading websites were a driver of assaults, sex attacks and property crime.

Mr Crisp credited the hard work of officers and a focus on problems such as car theft with Victoria’s crime reversal.

“I am confident that we will continue to see further decreases, but there are ongoing challenges for us,’’ he said

“I don’t shy from the fact that there are still some horrendous crimes and if you’re the victim of one of those violent aggravated burglaries or carjackings or you know someone who has been a victim I can think of nothing worse.”

The fall in family violence cases was masked by more women turning to support services.

Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre chief executive Annette Gillespie said it fielded more than 90,000 calls last financial year compared with about 60,000 calls over the previous 12 months.

Only 40 per cent of clients had made contact with police.

More women were seeking help early but others had reached crisis point and held immediate safety fears.

“The volume of work we are having to respond to is increasing significantly — we are overwhelmed,’’ Ms Gillespie said.