The police association has called for a boost in officers – not more taskforces – as Melton’s crime rate soared more than 17 per cent in a year.
Melton’s police services area recorded the second-highest increase in crime across the west in the 12 months to April 1, the latest Crime Statistics Agency figures, released last Thursday, reveal.
The biggest jump was for breaches of court orders (by 45 per cent), followed by dangerous and negligent acts endangering people (28 per cent); weapons offences, including knives, and explosive devices (24 per cent); theft (20 per cent); assault (16 per cent); and burglaries (15 per cent).
Meanwhile, domestic violence incidents in Melton increased by nine per cent to 2063.
Of the 24 categories of crime, all but abduction, blackmail and property-related offences have soared since 2012.
Police Association secretary Ron Iddles said while the crime rises were disappointing, they were not unexpected.
“When the population grows rapidly and police numbers in stations fall, then of course crime will rise,” Mr Iddles said.
“We can say reporting is up, or try to argue that somehow this report means we are doing things better, but, at the end of the day, the community should judge policing by the amount of crime that is prevented, not committed.
“To do anything else is ignoring that for every crime recorded there is a victim.”
Responding to the latest findings, Police Minister Lisa Neville said taskforces were investigating thefts and aggravated burglary to “smash gangs and target violent crime”.
Ms Neville said the state government had funded new police intelligence systems, mobile technology and body cameras to “deliver a modern and responsive police force”.
But Mr Iddles slammed the state government, describing the current policing model as “broken” so that it was responding to crime rather than preventing it.
“[Thursday’s] crime statistics prove that the creation of taskforce after taskforce will not make Victoria safer,” Mr Iddles said.
“The use of technology alone will not fix these problems.
“There is a distinct lack of police on our streets, and without police working closely with, and in, our local communities, all of these technology enhancements will be of little value.”
But in a statement, Ms Neville said the statistics “clearly” showed Victoria Police was targeting crime more effectively.
She said police were making more arrests and charging more offenders.
“We face a number of complex law and order challenges,” Ms Neville said.
“The scourge of family violence, the need to crack down on gangs and gun crime … which is why this government continues to give Victoria Police the people, technology and infrastructure they need to keep our community safe, now and well into the future.”
Melton police was contacted for comment.
