Benjamin Millar
A flood of fines for flouting COVID-19 restrictions has fuelled a sharp rise in recorded Moorabool crime rates over the 12 months to June 30, according to newly released data.
The Crime Statistics Agency (CSA) released the Victorian recorded crime statistics for the year ending 30 June last Thursday, revealing an overall 6.9 per cent decrease in crime across the state.
Yet Moorabool offences soared a dramatic 19.3 per cent – from 2214 to 2641 – largely driven by 347 public health and safety offences.
Other top offences in the region included breaches of family violence orders (269), other theft (242), criminal damage (209) and theft from a motor vehicle (203).
Bacchus Marsh was the location with the most offences at 1186, followed by Darley (397), Maddingley (275), Ballan (211) and Gordon (56).
The number of offences recorded in Melton rose a more modest 1.3 per cent, from 13,370 to 13,542.
The largest single offence was breaches of family violence orders (1949), followed by other theft (1410) theft from a vehicle (1128), criminal damage (974) and public health and safety offences (752).
Melton South recorded the most offences with 2349, then Melton (2196), Melton West (1722), Caroline Springs (1385) and Rockbank (1173).
Across Victoria the largest increase in the last 12 months was observed for public health and safety offences (up 26,446 to 32,561 offences), the majority of which were breaches of chief health officer directions related to the COVID-19 public health response.
Family violence incidents also increased 5.9 per cent in the last 12 months to 93,440 and breach family violence order offences jumped by 7236 to 55,252 offences.
CSA chief statistician Fiona Dowsley said the decreases in key crime measures coincided with COVID-19-related restrictions on movement.
“The volume decrease during this time has been observed largely in the acquisitive and more opportunistic crime types such as thefts,” she said.
“Conversely there have been increases in breaches of orders including family violence orders and chief health officer directions.”
