Overall crime is down, but sexual offences across Wyndham have skyrocketed, new crime figures reveal.
The latest data from the Crime Statistics Agency reveal total crime across Wyndham had dropped 4.8 per cent in the 12 months to March 31, despite a 38.3 per cent spike in sexual offences over the period, with 365 sex crimes recorded, up from 264.
Sexual offences include rape, indecent assault, incest, sexual offences against children and other sexual offences.
The category has been steadily on the increase in recent years, with 200 sex crimes recorded over a 12-month period to March 31, 2012.
Family violence, firearms and weapons offences, deception offences, drug offences and retail theft also recorded increases in the latest figures, while there were significant decreases in the number of aggravated and non-aggravated burglaries, car thefts and thefts from motor vehicles, and breaching bail conditions.
Wyndham Police Acting Inspector Jason Templar said sexual assault victims could now report sex crimes and receive support at the newly-opened multi-disciplinary centre in Werribee.
The new centre pairs police and support services under one roof for victims of sexual offences, family violence and child abuse.
“It is vital we continue to receive these reports so police can support victims and hold offenders to account for these terrible crimes,” he said.
Acting Inspector Templar said targeted operations to address high-volume crime had significantly reduced burglaries and theft across the city.
“Our crime investigation and divisional response units have also been working hard to curb serious crime by proactively targeting those possessing illegal firearms. This has resulted in a number of arrests and a 13.1 per cent increase in weapons offences,” he said.
“We look forward to welcoming an additional 12 general duties police officers to the Wyndham police service area over the next 10 months.”
