There were more than 300 breaches of bail recorded in Wyndham during the past financial year, with most of the offences occurring in Werribee.
Statistics released by the Crime Statistics Agency Victoria show that across the 12 months, there were 317 bail breaches across Wyndham, including 232 in Werribee.
There were 53 breaches in Hoppers Crossing, 12 in Tarneit, 10 in Wyndham Vale and seven in Point Cook.
There was one breach of bail each in Truganina, Werribee South and Williams Landing.
The statistics showed there were 14,075 bail breaches in the state in the financial year ending in June, with Melbourne recording the highest number at 1303.
Elsewhere in the west, Sunshine recorded 521 bail breaches, Footscray 129 breaches, Melton 127 and Altona North 42.
Suburbs with courts, police stations and justice services tended to record the highest number of bail breaches, as offenders are often required to report at these places while on
bail.
A report from the Sentencing Advisory Council, released in September, showed that breaches of bail conditions, bail and sentencing orders accounted for 10 per cent of all charges handed down in Victorian courts in the 2015–16 financial year.
During that period, there were almost 32,000 charges laid for offences such as failing to attend court when required, contravened community correction orders and breaches of conditions imposed on sex offenders.
Sentencing Advisory Council chairman Arie Freiberg said offences that arose from breaching conditions were responsible for a significant and growing proportion of charges in Victoria.
“In examining these offences as a group for the first time, this report highlights their contribution to the workload of courts and others in the criminal justice system,” Professor Freiberg said.
He said studying the offences statistics might assist discussion around the purpose and effectiveness of the offences.
