POLICE REPORTS FUDGED
Cops underplayed violent home invasion to keep crime stats down says victim, who claims ...
AUTHORITIES are being accused of fudging the reporting of serious crimes in an effort to keep figures down. The claim — which is being echoed by two local politicians — comes in the wake of a violent home invasion in Connewarre last month.
AUTHORITIES are being accused of fudging the reporting of serious crimes in an effort to keep figures down.
The claim – which is being echoed by two local politicians – comes in the wake of a violent home invasion in Connewarre.
Jeff Brooks was dragged 50 metres when a car rammed him on his Thirteenth Beach Rd property late at night on February 23.
The professional pilot was left with bruises and grazes to his body after sliding off the bonnet and ending in a “crumpled mess” on the side of his driveway.
The people in the car had just broken into his home while his wife and teenage children were inside, stealing more than $8500 worth of property.
Despite the seriousness of the offending, a victim letter given to Mr Brooks by Victoria Police summarised the offence as a mere “310A — burglary”.
It did not categorise the incident as the more serious “aggravated burglary”, which is used to describe break-ins where people are present.
It also did not make any mention of the offending related to the car which veered at Mr Brooks.
“A ‘310A — burglary’ is the most menial, pathetic nonevent; it’s like when someone steals your crappy old bike when you’re not home,” Mr Brooks said.
“My feet were dragged under the front of the car as I clung on for dear life trying not to be killed. At the very least it’s an aggravated burglary.”
A spokesman for Victoria Police said investigators could not be reached yesterday, therefore he could not shed light on why the offence had been deemed a burglary.
But the spokesman said victim letters were not used by the Crime Statistics Agency to capture data, and he said incident reports prepared by police typically contained a list of “sub incidents” which included other offences committed.
However, federal and state politicians in Geelong have joined Mr Brooks in suggesting Victoria Police and the State Government were deliberately downplaying crimes.
South Barwon MP Andrew Katos said Victorian Labor “has form” with dumbing down data, referring to October 2010 when it used incomplete statistics to claim there had been a reduction in street crime under its watch.
His federal Liberal counterpart, Corangamite MP Sarah Henderson, has now called for an inquiry into how the Connewarre incident could be classified as a burglary.
“This was a full scale home invasion. Mr Brooks could’ve been run over and killed,” she said.
“I am also calling on Police Minister Lisa Neville to conduct a full audit of its crime reporting statistics.
“This audit is essential. The community deserves to know that State Labor is not fudging crime statistics.”
In response, Ms Neville said the Government was not involved in collecting crime data and that there were already ongoing audits of the statistics.
“The agency in Victoria collects more data and reports on more crimes than any other state,” she said.
“Unlike Sarah Henderson, I trust and support police members to report crime as per the policies of Victoria Police and the Crime Statistics Agency Victoria.”
“A 310A — burglary is the most menial, pathetic non-event; it’s like when someone steals your crappy old bike when you’re not home.” — JEFF BROOKS