Police figures reveal 10.5 per cent less crime Crime drops

Alex de Vos
Greater police presence and the introduction of new powers to tackle anti-social behaviour have led to a “significant” drop in crime, Geelong’s top cop has revealed.
Six months after taking on the job as Geelong Police Inspector, Phil Swindells told the Independent he was “very pleased” with the latest crime statistics.
He said police figures for 2009 showed a 10.5 per cent drop in overall crime against a person including homicide, rape, robbery and abduction.
Assaults had slumped the most with a 12.5 per cent downturn, while property crime including arson, burglary and theft of cars fell 4.1 per cent, according to the statistics.
Insp Swindells praised the new police figures.
“We’re very happy,” he said.
“The statistics are very pleasing but we can always work better to achieve a better result.”
Insp Swindells attributed the fall in crime to an increase in police presence and the introduction of new legislation to issue on-the-spot fines for anti-social behaviour.
“I think it can be derived from an enforcement strategy and improved communication,” Insp Swindells said.
“Geelong nightlife is the second largest in the state and we have an obligation to ensure community safety around those precincts and to do so we run operation nightlife on a regular basis.
“Also, behaviour offences have historically led to incidents of assault and now with the ability to issue penalty notices for behaviour we’re seeing an impact on the amount of assault that’s being reported.
“We’re targeting the small crimes so they don’t lead to potentially bigger offences.”
Earlier this month a Melbourne newspaper reported a 6.4 per cent jump in Geelong assaults over the last financial year.
However, Insp Swindells said he was unaware of the rise.
“The year-to-date figures indicate a decrease in terms of assaults,” he said.
In 2008, police statistics revealed a 12 per cent increase in overall crime.
Domestic assaults led the rise with a 25 per cent increase, according to the statistics.
Police received 294 reports of domestic assault in the 12 months compared to 235 for the same time the previous year.