Victoria’s crime rate has fallen again for the seventh consecutive year in a row, with a decrease of 1.9 per cent per 100,000 population on the previous year, Police Minister Bob Cameron said today.
Today’s release of the official 2007-08 Victoria Police Statistics by Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon has revealed the Brumby Government’s record investment in police resources had helped with a decline in the crime rate by 24.5 per cent since 2000-01.
Crime rates are now at their lowest point since the introduction of computerised recording in 1993. "Crime rates are now at their lowest point since the introduction of computerised recording in 1993."
“These figures confirm Australian Bureau of Statistics data released earlier this year, showing Victoria is the safest state in Australia,” Mr Cameron said.
“Since coming to Government, we have invested in over 1400 extra police with a further 350 police to be delivered during this term.
“We have also provided Victoria Police with a record budget of $1.75 billion.”
Mr Cameron praised the work of Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon and Victoria Police for continuing to reduce crime.
He said the 2007-08 Victoria Police crime statistics show the crime rates in the following offence categories have declined over the last year:
• Homicide - down by 15.6 per cent;
• Assaults – down by 0.8 per cent;
• Overall Crime against the person – down by 0.2 per cent;
• Overall Crime against property - down by 2 per cent; and
• Residential burglary - down by 4 per cent.
While the rate of robbery offences was up 13.9 per cent on the previous year, they are down 30.1 per cent since 2000-01.
Since 2000-01 crime rates have also fallen significantly in a number of other categories, including:
• Aggravated Burglary – down 37.1 per cent;
• Residential Burglary – down 47 per cent;
• Theft from motor vehicles – down 25.8 per cent; and
• Theft of motor vehicles – down 61.3 per cent.
Mr Cameron said he was pleased to see a reduction in the rate of non-family violence assaults, which have dropped 1.2 per cent in the last year.