Wyndham’s overall crime rate has fallen despite a 20 per cent increase in assaults last financial year, new police data reveals.
A total of 12,046 offences were recorded in the year to July, down 2.9 per cent from the previous financial year.
Statewide, crime increased 3.4 per cent.
Wyndham police Inspector Damien Christensen said the
municipality’s crime rate had fallen because police had increased
resources and targeted burglaries and vehicle crimes. He said police had
been working with community groups and at shopping centres and
transport hubs to target repeat offenders.
“It is significant that an overall reduction of 2.9 per cent in total crime has been achieved,” Inspector Christensen said.
“The results have occurred in the reduction of property crime, including burglary, property damage and motor vehicle crime.”
Inspector Christensen said Wyndham’s
overall crime rate had been affected by an increase in crimes against
the person, which was up 12 per cent from 1312 in 2011-12 to 1472 last
financial year. He said a rise in assaults recorded at Port Phillip
Prison, which are included in Wyndham’s crime figures, and a
zero-tolerance attitude towards assaults on police and protective
services officers were behind the increase.
Family violence reports were also up, with 555 offences recorded
in 2012-13. Police received 469 family violence reports in 2011-12.
Inspector Christensen said while police had noticed an increase in reports, they had coincided with a reduction in repeat offences.
“This increase means that more people may have
required police assistance at a domestic incident, but many of these
households do not have repeat police attendance due to intervention
methods adopted, assistance from our partner agencies and police taking
action in the first instance, with follow-up welfare provided.”
