Victoria Records Highest Number of Criminal Incidents Since Data Began
- admin928749
- Sep 25
- 1 min read
Victoria’s crime rate has hit its highest level on record, with thefts driving a major spike across the state.
Fresh figures from the Crime Statistics Agency (CSA) reveal both criminal incidents and recorded offences have been climbing steadily since the end of COVID-19 lockdowns.
Police aren’t happy. Deputy Commissioner for Regional Operations Bob Hill called the trend “unacceptable.”
“As a society, we simply cannot allow the level of crime we are seeing to become normalised and accepted,” he said.“Every Victorian deserves to feel safe in their home, within the community and on the roads.”
In the 12 months to June 30, police logged 483,583 criminal incidents – up 18.3% from the previous year’s 408,930. That’s the highest figure since reporting began in 2004-05.
To put it in perspective: since 2017, incidents are up 22%, while Victoria’s population has only grown by 12%.
Melbourne is still the state’s crime hotspot, recording 18,097 incidents per 100,000 residents – a 17.4% jump on last year. That said, the per capita rate is still slightly lower than in 2017, when it peaked at 18,334.
Key drivers of the spike:
Theft offences up 33% overall
Theft from motor vehicles almost doubled (+40%), jumping from 24,409 to 86,351 cases
Family incidents rose 7.7%
Alleged offender incidents involving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people increased 31.7%
The number of recorded offences overall also climbed, reaching 638,640 cases – up 15.7% in a single year.
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