The number of sexual offences recorded in Wyndham has grown by more than two thirds in 12 months, reaching 223 crimes last year.
In 2016, there were 156 sexual offences recorded by Wyndham police.
According to statistics from the Victorian Crime Statistics Agency, the 223 sexual offences included 94 acts of indecent assault, 84 rapes, 16 sexual offences against children, 10 counts of incest and 19 other types of offences.
There were 216 victims, including 106 women and 11 men, and three cases where the victim’s gender is unknown to police.
Ninety-three of the victims were aged 17 or below, including 79 girls and 14 boys.
In 2017, 59 sexual crimes occurred in Werribee, 42 in Hoppers Crossing, 35 in Tarneit, 32 in Point Cook, 21 in Truganina, 15 in Wyndham Vale and 19 in Wyndham’s other suburbs.
Wyndham police Inspector Marty Allison said the number of offences reported to Victoria Police had increased by 45 per cent during the past five years, with more than 14,500 sexual offences reported in 2017 – about 40 incidents a day.
“We attribute a large portion of the increase in reports to improved confidence in the community to come forward … and know they will be believed,” Inspector Allison said.
“However, we believe reports of sexual offences remain significantly under-reported.”
Inspector Allison said it was “never too late” to report a sexual offence and that police would encourage victims to come forward regardless of when or where they were assaulted.
“Our message to victims is that Victoria Police supports you, if you come forward we have specially trained investigators who will listen to you – even if you do not want to proceed with an investigation there are important reasons for reporting a sexual offence, as the information you provide us may help us enhance your safety or the safety of others,” he said.
Victims can report to their local police station or find the nearest Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team online at www.police.vic.gov.au.
