By Esther Lauaki
Moorabool’s crime rate is up as breaches of court orders, deception and theft offences climb.
Data released last Thursday by the Crime Statistics Agency revealed a 13.7 per cent increase in offences recorded in the past year to December to 2439, up from 2146.
The main drivers behind the spike were significant increases in property and deception offences (1196 to 1399), drug offences (77 to 98) and justice procedures offences (290 to 437).
Theft in Moorabool jumped 16.6 per cent from 674 to 808, deception more than doubled from 46 to 106 and drug use and possession rose 39 per cent from 53 to 87.
Breaches in court orders also climbed to 364 from 202 – the highest number recorded at this time in nearly a decade.
Contrary to the overall increase in Moorabool crime, crimes against the person are down from 438 to 391 (12 per cent) driven by a 43 per cent drop in sexual offences to 53 and dangerous and negligent acts decreasing by more than 52 per cent.
Meanwhile, Melton’s crime rate has risen by half a per cent as police continue to focus on property and deception offences which have reduced by 3 per cent.
Drug dealing and trafficking was a driver for the slight increase with offences up from 61 to 84 (27 per cent) in the past year.
Statewide, crime is up about 1 per cent.
Police Minister Lisa Neville said the figures reflect a “great level of stability”.
“The important thing that this shows us is the work that Victoria Police has been doing in areas such as drug offences and justice procedures,” Ms Neville said.
“Those figures reflect the additional work our officers have been doing to disrupt trafficking and cultivating of drugs as well as family violence.”
She said there was a reduction in crimes against the person and also a drop in property crime.
“We’ve got the lowest victimisation rate that we’ve had in 10 years,” Ms Neville said.
“We’ve also got the lowest burglary rate in a decade.”
Details: www.crimestatistics.vic.gov.au
