By Luke Voogt
A police operation targeting repeat criminals has helped Geelong to record its first yearly crime reduction in a decade, according to the city’s top cop.
Superintendent Craig Gillard told the Indy yesterday (Thursday) that Geelong police had used all available legislative tools to target known offenders.
“We make no apologies for continuing to put our efforts into influencing recidivist offenders not to commit further crime,” he said.
Supt Gillard welcomed the 2.1 per cent drop in overall crime during the past financial year, which included reductions in burglaries and theft of 7.8 and 15.4 per cent respectively.
The introduction of police custody officers freed up additional police to serve on the beat, he said.
“We look forward to an additional 10 uniformed police coming in early 2018 to further enhance our policing model.”
Sexual offences rose by 11.6 per cent, which a State Government spokesperson said was largely due to historical offences at institutions such as the Catholic Church.
Supt Gillard said victims had become more comfortable reporting sexual offences knowing that police would investigate them.
Assaults also rose by 16.7 per cent during the financial year.
“The challenge for our community remains to reduce the number, and harm caused, by both family violence and other assaults,” Supt Gillard said.
“This type of behaviour is very impactful to both victims and community and will be a key police focus, especially coming into the summer months.”
Police Minister Lisa Neville hailed the reduction as the result of her government’s policies, as the crime rate fell by 2.9 per cent state-wide.
“We have invested a record amount in getting more police on to our streets as well as new equipment and technology for Victoria Police,” she said.
“While these statistics are encouraging – and a testament to the hard work of police in Geelong and the region – there is still a long way to go.”
Police custody officers working at Geelong Police Station had freed up more than 5000 police shifts, Ms Neville said.
“Both Geelong police and the Government will continue our relentless focus to ensure this decline in crime rate continues.”
In Ms Neville’s Bellarine electorate, crime fell marginally, with reductions in Portarlington (19.8 per cent) and Ocean Grove (8.3 per cent).
But crime rose in Drysdale (8.8 per cent), Leopold (9 per cent) and Barwon Heads (14 per cent).
The Victorian opposition yesterday drew attention to crime rates during the Andrews Government’s tenure which had risen by 21.25 per cent in Geelong.
But Greater Geelong also experienced a 23 per cent increase under the previous government, Ms Neville responded.
“Crime went up in our region every year, including under the previous Liberal Government, during a time that they closed police stations in Geelong.”
The Surf Coast Shire recorded a 15 per cent decline in crime while crime across the Borough of Queenscliffe dropped 1.3 per cent.
