Tara Murray
Crime offences increased in the Surf Coast, but dropped in both Greater Geelong and Queenscliffe in the 12 months to June according to new data.
The latest Crime Statistics Agency figures for the 12 months to June, showed that despite crime dropping across the state, there was an increase in the Surf Coast area.
Crime in the area was up 8.3 per cent on the previous 12 months from 1345 offences to 1456 offences.
The statistics showed crime was up in most locations, with Torquay recording the highest number of offences with 628.
Other theft, criminal damage, stealing from a motor vehicle and breaching family violence orders were the most common crimes and were all up in the previous 12 months.
There was also a massive increase in family violence incidents, up from 152 to 184, an increase of 21.1 per cent.
While crime increased in the Surf Coast, the 12 months to June was the lowest number of offences in Queenscliffe since 2013.
There were just 99 offences recorded in the 12 months to June, down from 115 in the previous 12 months.
Just over half the incidents occurred in Queenscliff, while there were 45 offences in Point Lonsdale and four on Swan Island.
Criminal damage was the most popular offence.
There were mixed results for Greater Geelong in the latest figures.
Overall offences dropped by 6.8 per percent from 22,387 in the previous 12 months, to 21,295 at the end of June.
There was a drop in crime in Geelong, but it still remained the highest in the police area.
Corio and Norlane, which both recorded increases in offences, were second and third.
Breach of family violence order was the top criminal offence in Greater Geelong, followed by other theft, stealing from a motor vehicle, criminal damage and stealing from a retail store.
Worryingly, family violence did increase in Greater Geelong by 8.1 per cent.
In the past 12 months there were 322 more incidents than the previous 12 months.
