The number of crimes reported to police in Wyndham has dropped to a three-year low, according to the latest data from the Crime Statistics Agency.
Statistics released last week reveal that police responded to a total of 14,131 crimes in Wyndham last year – 8.78 per cent lower than the 15,373 crimes recorded in Wyndham during 2016. In 2015, 14,331 incidents were reported to police.
Thefts, down from 5961 offences to 4632 offences; burglaries and break and enters (1867 to 1472); property damage (1151 offences to 1137); arson (130 offences to 83); and drug crimes (673 to 650 offences) all decreased in Wyndham between 2016 and last year.
Crimes which rose in Wyndham for the same period included assaults and related offences (up from 1179 offences to 1305 offences), sexual crimes (from 244 to 329) and weapons and explosives crimes (from 379 offences to 395).
Wyndham’s Acting Police Inspector Jason Templar said the crime rate represented an equivalent of 6151 crimes for every 100,000 residents.
In comparison, the Maribyrnong municipality recorded the equivalent of 9133 crimes for every 100,000 residents, Brimbank was 8437 crimes for every 100,000 residents, Melton 7420 crimes for every 100,000 residents and Hobsons Bay 6437 crimes for every 100,000 residents.
Acting Inspector Templar described the latest statistics as an “outstanding” result for Wyndham.
“It’s the safest municipality to live in, in the western suburbs,” he said.
“The members at Werribee and Wyndham North stations are dedicated to reducing crime in the area and have worked tirelessly to drive crime down across the past 12 months.
“I’m very happy with the result.”
Acting Inspector Templar said Wyndham police had contributed to the drop in crime by adopting a “more pro-active approach” to policing.
He said this involved officers patrolling in high-risk locations such as CBDs, shopping centres and train stations.
“It’s more about focusing on identifying areas where we need to have a visible presence to deter crime, rather than just responding to crime,” he said.
He said police were also involving the community in policing, through regular pop-up police station events and Coffee With a Cop sessions.
