By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
Crime jumped 12.7 per cent across Geelong and 9.1 per cent in Surf Coast, latest Crime Statistics Agency figures reveal.
Golden Plains had the region’s highest rise, 18.6 per cent, while Queenscliff was up 11.8 per cent.
All four local government areas recorded increases in crime above state averages.
The number of offences across Geelong increased from 18,769 in 2014 to 21,158 in 2015 for an offence rate of 9304.7 per 100,000 residents.
Offences in Surf Coast were up from 1373 in 2014 to 1498 in 2015, an offence rate of 5121 per 100,000.
Golden Plains crime was up from 505 to 599 and Queenscliff from 101 to 113.
The state-wide increase was 8.1 per cent.
As for suburbs and towns, Geelong West recorded a 119.4 per cent rise in crime, Barwon Heads was up 31.4 per cent and Ocean Grove rose 19.8 per cent.
The main crime categories on the rise included possession and use of illegal weapons, drug dealing and trafficking, theft and family violence.
Premier Daniel Andrews chose the day the figures were released to visit the Victoria Police Academy to congratulate 21 graduation police and 19 Protective Services Officers.
Mr Andrews said his Labor Government had funded nearly 700 extra “police personnel” from $2.5 billion in funding for Victoria Police.
“This includes $148.6 million to recruit, train and deploy 400 custody officers in 22 police stations over the next three years,” he said.
But Liberal Member for South Barwon Andrew Katos said the new crime statistics contained more bad news for the region.
“The Labor Government has been in charge for the entire year of these new figures so there can no longer be any finger pointing,” he said.
“We have increased thefts and burglaries, car thefts and a significant rise in drug crime.
Geelong’s affluent areas were becoming increasing targets for gangs breaking into houses, stealing cars, leaving people feeling unsafe in their own homes, Mr Katos said.
“The police force attrition rate is at least 150 members every year, so only recruiting 21 officers is not good enough. Waurn Ponds police station should have 32 officers and its running on only 17 and Torquay is also well under what is required.
“Daniel Andrews doesn’t care about law and order in this state.”
