By Alesha Capone
Family violence crimes in Wyndham increased by 15.1 per cent in the past 12 months, in line with a statewide trend.
According to latest figures released by the state’s Crime Statistics Agency, there were 3800 family violence incidents reported, up from 3301 incidents, in Wyndham from March 31, 2020 to March 31, 2021.
Across the state, family violence crimes rose 8.2 per cent, at 92,999 incidents reported, the highest on record.
CSA chief statistician Fiona Dowsley said that in contrast, other types of victim reports decreased across the past 12 months.
“This increase in family violence-related victimisation has been seen for the last three years, reflecting more than pandemic-related impacts,” she said.
Overall crime in Wyndham rose by 3.4 per cent, from a total of 17,263 reported offences to 17,849 offences in the 12 month period.
Drugs offences increased from 840 reported offences to 960; obtaining benefit by deception rose from 734 to 1102 offences; sexual offences increased from 442 to 655 offences and public health and safety offences jumped from one incident to 1380 reported incidents.
Crime which fell in Wyndham include aggravated robberies (from 207 to 134 offences), motor vehicle thefts (from 700 to 594 offences), stealing from a store (from 1081 to 598 offences) and stealing from a motor vehicle (from 1819 to 598 offences).
Residential, non-aggravated burglaries also decreased from 816 to 481 offences.
Between March 2020-March 2021, there were 4900 crimes recorded in Werribee, 2959 in Hoppers Crossing, 2674 in Point Cook, 2315 in Tarneit and 1793 in Wyndham Vale.
