By Danielle Kutchel
The latest crime statistics are in, and it’s a mixed bag for the City of Casey.
Released on Thursday 20 June, the latest numbers show that the number of homicides, assaults and sexual offences per 100,000 are lower than at the same time last year.
Theft and deception offences, however, have increased slightly.
The number of burglary and break-in offences per 100,000 has also continued to fall.
However, drug related crimes, including dealing and trafficking, cultivating and manufacturing, and use and possession, have increased on last year’s numbers.
The Crime Statistics Agency publishes recorded crime statistics every quarter, and the latest statistics cover the year ending 31 March 2019.
Across Victoria, the latest data from the independent Crime Statistics Agency shows that after seven consecutive quarterly reductions, the crime rate has stabilised.
The data for the year to March 2019 shows a stabilisation in the crime rate with a minor increase of 0.5 per cent offences per 100,000 populations compared to the previous year period.
The agency advises that the offence rate, which takes into account population change, is the most appropriate measure of comparison over time.
Minister for Police and Emergency Services Lisa Neville says this stabilising crime rate is largely due to the efforts of expanding and well-resourced police force proactively policing crime.
“Our unprecedented investment in police numbers and capability continues to make a real difference with increasing numbers of offenders processed by police and the lowest number of victims on record,” Ms Neville said.
