POLICE PUT DENT IN CITY’S CRIME RATE
Dramatic drop in thefts, burglaries, but surge in assualts
GEELONG’S crime rate is down 1.2 per cent after major inroads were made during the past year to drive down burglaries and thefts.
But some of the most violent crimes, including sexual assault and common assault, have grown to the highest rates since 2009.
New data from the Crime Statistics Agency shows thefts dropped by 14 per cent, burglaries decreased by 15 per cent and the arson rate dipped by 23 per cent in the 12 months to March.
But crimes against a person rose by nearly 13 per cent.
The rate of sexual offences per 100,000 people rose by 41.6 per cent, robbery was up 41 per cent; stalking increased by nearly 15 per cent and common assault climbed by 7 per cent. Serious assault offences also grew by 10 per cent.
Geelong Superintendent Craig Gillard said police would focus on reducing the “alarming” figures in the next year through targeted patrols and community safety strategies.
He said Geelong’s police area included three jails which had seen an increase in assaults.
“We are still getting some assaults in the street but we are seeing an increase in assaults between parties known to each other that is not necessarily family violence, but people who know each other and may be affected by alcohol,” Supt Gillard said.
He said Geelong was “inherently a safe place” and that
“Loosely it’s about 400 less burglaries and about 1000 less thefts.” GEELONG SUPERINTENDENT CRAIG GILLARD
the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse was continuing to drive increases in reporting of historical sex offences.
But Supt Gillard said “sexting” — usually between young people — was of growing concern for police.
He said targeted and strategic police operations focusing on high-risk known offenders had led to significant reductions in high-volume, highly visible crime categories.
“Loosely it’s about 400 less burglaries and about 1000 less thefts. What’s led to it is a whole range of strategies,” Supt Gillard said.
“We’ve had a really strong, ongoing and sustained focus on recidivist offenders and pleasingly we have reducing numbers of offenders in the community.”
Three specialist youth tasking officers are expected to start in Geelong in coming months and will help police home in on youth offenders.
“We had a very high level of youth offending and we have developed a very strong focus and are making some really good inroads,” Supt Gillard said.
Overall crime was up in Lara, Waurn Ponds, Corio and Belmont, but down in Norlane, Bell Park, North Geelong, Geelong West and Herne Hill.
The Surf Coast’s overall rate dropped by 13 per cent, while the Borough of Queenscliffe’s crime rate dropped by 16 per cent.
Police Minister Lisa Neville said an additional 38 police due to hit Geelong’s beat by next year would help officers continue to drive down the region’s crime.
“More police coming to Geelong means more police patrolling the streets and more police employed in specialist roles to prevent crime and prosecute offenders — with more to come over the coming years,” Ms Neville said.
“While these are promising figures there is always more to be done to drive down crime further — that’s why we’re making record investments to give police the resources, powers and equipment they need to keep us safe.”
But South Barwon MP Andrew Katos said more resources were needed for police to truly tackle crime in Geelong.
“We have seen some reduction in burglary and thefts but police are plugging holes with the resources they have while others continue to leak,” Mr Katos said.
Supt Gillard said police would focus on reducing aggravated burglaries, assault, family violence and the serious injury collisions and fatals over the next year.