Crime statistics down

Combined efforts of special operations and community assistance have contributed to driving down crime statistics in the Baw Baw police services area.

Overall crime dropped 6.3 per cent according to statistics released last week by the Crime Statistics Agency for the year ending June 30.

Baw Baw inspector Chris Major said the overall decline in crime was encouraging.

While theft and drug offences continued to be a concern, Mr Major said assaults and burglaries were trending down.

In Baw Baw, there was a total of 3879 offences, of which half were property related offences.

The rate per 100,000 population was 7955, which Mr Major said was well below the state average of 8659.

Baw Baw figures were significantly lower compared to neighbouring Latrobe police services area, where the rate was 18,883 offences per 100,000.

Mr Major admitted historic offences over the years had distorted statistics. “But, overall it is a safe area and it’s a combination of factors with everybody contributing to reduce crimes.

“When you look at the rate of crime per 100,000, it’s well below the state average.

“An effort across the community to report crime in the first instance and efforts to assist police have contributed to it.

“Overall, it’s a community effort and people being more security conscious,” he said.

Mr Major said police had ran a number of operations focussing on residential and commercial burglaries and thefts from cars that helped to drive down statistics.

Burglaries dropped 6.9 per cent for the period but thefts continued to rise 4.9 per cent.

Mr Major said property crime in general continued to be a concern and police would continue to work with businesses in an effort to reduce burglaries and thefts.

He said petrol drive-off offences had reduced because of a combined effort of police and service station operators.

Drug offences overall were down 32 per cent, but the number of offences for cultivating and manufacturing drugs were up 18 per cent.

Mr Major said it was largely due to the uncovering of several houses growing drugs in the local area.

Crimes against the person dropped 3.6 per cent, despite a 13 per cent increase in dangerous and negligent acts endangering life.

Mr Major said a decrease in family violence incidents in Baw Baw was in line with a trend across the state.

CSA statistics showed the rate of family incidents in Victoria decreased by 3.3 per cent, compared to the previous year when the rate increased by 7.8 per cent.

Mr Major said family violence was a major concern but a dedicated effort by police in taking action at the first opportunity had helped to prevent ongoing violence.

He said intervention and family violence orders were taken out immediately which helped to reduce the rate of recidivism and repeat calls to addresses.

He stressed it was important for victims to contact police so that police could respond immediately and prevent ongoing violence.

A dedicated family violence unit has been established at Warragul to continue to provide support and intervention.

Mr Major said assaults in public areas also had reduced, which was largely due to the effectiveness of the Baw Baw liquor accord.