By Luke Voogt
Social media “predators” have contributed to a 79 per cent rise in Geelong sex offences over 12 months, according to a counselling service.
Offenders were increasingly using online messaging and dating platforms, Barwon Centre Against Sexual Assault (CASA) warned.
“A lot of them are very serious sexual assaults,” said CASA chief Helen Bolton.
“There does seem to be cohort of people who use dating apps for predatory behaviour.
“That has certainly increased the number of sexual offences that we see.”
Sex offences almost doubled to 739 in Geelong during the year to September 2017, up from 413 at the same time last year.
Victims reporting historic offences drove most of the rise, Ms Bolton said.
Recent royal commissions into family violence and child sexual abuse had made victims more comfortable reporting, she added.
“Certainly the commissions have brought about a lot of publicity and reduced the stigma of reporting sexual offences.”
Awareness campaigns had brought more focus on perpetrators as being solely responsible, Ms Bolton said.
“People now understand support is available to them and they are not alone.”
Geelong Superintendent Craig warned dating app members to be mindful of how they use the platforms.
“We are witnessing an increase in this type of offending arising from social media apps, which is concerning,” he said.
Supt Gillard said offences on apps like Tinder included ‘sexting’ and “serious contact” by meeting with “people the victims has previously not met before”.
“The majority of sexual offending is between parties known to each other and historical of nature, though.”
But Supt Gillard praised the hard work of Geelong police as overall crime dropped 5.1 per cent during the same time period.
Offences fell from 23,349 to 22,336, a decrease 4.3 per cent or 5.1 per 100,000 people (which allows for population growth) according Crime Statistics Agency Victoria.
Geelong police recorded decreases of 23 per cent for thefts and 14 per cent for burglaries.
Supt Gillard said a trial of traceable liquid in Norlane to prevent burglaries and police targeting recidivist offenders had driven the positive result.
“We have focussed strongly on high volume crime which has probably the greatest impact on the residents of our community.”
The crime rate per 100,000 people decreased to 9412, still higher than the Victorian average of 8398.
Supt Gillard said Geelong police command would receive 10 additional staff in April or May.
Geelong recorded minor rises in assaults, drug offences and breaches of orders.
“Assaults continue to be a challenge for us in a range of environments including in the home, in public places, in prisons, upon police and through breaches of intervention orders,” Supt Gillard said.
“Most of these offences arise from a lack of respect, which is a whole-of-community issue.”
Ms Bolton urged those affected by sexual violence to phone Barwon CASA 5224 318 or 1800 806 292 after hours, or to contact police.
