Ash Bolt
Geelong has seen a significant decrease in crime over the 12 months to September, with almost 13 per cent fewer criminal incidents reported.
The latest Crime Statistics Agency data for the 12 months to September showed there were 14,819 criminal incidents recorded across the City of Greater Geelong – a 12.9 per cent decrease on the previous year’s 17,020 incidents.
The drop was led by large decreases in drug and property offences.
Thefts dropped by almost 20 per cent while drug possession offences dropped by almost one-third.
However there was an increase in crimes against the person, with a three per cent increase in the number of assaults recorded – up to 1838 incidents, the most recorded in Greater Geelong over 12 months over the past 10 years.
Sexual assaults also increased, up to 400 incidents recorded from 359 the previous year.
Geelong Police Superintendent Peter Ward said the figures were heavily influenced by the lockdowns at the end of 2020 and from July to September.
“It’s really encouraging to see a significant drop in the number of criminal incidents in the Geelong region, but we know this is largely due to strict stay-at-home restrictions that were in place at this time, which limited people’s movement,” he said.
“Reductions in property and drug offences were largely linked to the fact many people spent more time at home, and retail and shopping outlets were closed for a large portion of this time. Key drivers were drops in property damage, residential aggravated and non-aggravated burglaries, drug possession and drug trafficking.
“The driving force behind the increase in crimes against a person was a jump in both sexual offences and non-family violence-related serious assaults.
“Sexual offences were largely driven by online offending as people spent more time in front of computers and other devices during lockdowns. In addition, victims are showing more confidence in police when it comes to reporting sexual offending, which also contributed to the increase.
“We know serious assaults are often alcohol induced and we urge all community members to drink responsibly, particularly over the festive period.”
Central Geelong had the most criminal incidents recorded in the city, with 1981 incidents, although it saw an 11 per cent decrease on the previous year.
The number of family violence incidents increased, with 4210 incidents reported to police.
Crime also dropped in Queenscliffe, with just 72 criminal incidents recorded across the year.
Theft was the most common offence, with 19, ahead of 16 property damage incidents.
The Surf Coast Shire bucked the region’s trend, with a 1.4 per cent increase in criminal incidents.
The figures came on the back of an increase in the number of assaults, stalking and harassment offences and breaches of court orders recorded in the shire.
