News

Police | September 29, 2016

Crime up nearly 30 per cent in Southern Grampians

Crime across the Southern Grampians LGA is up nearly 30 per cent since December 2014, new statistics from Victoria’s Crime Statistics Agency have revealed.

In the Agency’s annual report, released on Thursday, Southern Grampians LGA recorded a 29.68 per cent increase in crime between December 2014 and June 2016.

Total offences were up to 1241, from 957 in 2014.

“The state’s crime rate has continued to rise in the past 18 months, in the Southern Grampians area we’ve seen an increase of 30 per cent,” Ms Kealy said.

“Daniel Andrews has cut our frontline police numbers, taken a soft on crime approach and closed local stations” she said.

In Coleraine, theft increased more than 150 per cent between June 2015 and June 2016. In Hamilton, drug offences more than doubled in 2016 compared to 2015.

“Our police are doing their best in difficult circumstances, but these shocking increases cannot be ignored,” Ms Kealy said.

“The Andrews Labor Government must support our hardworking local police and provide them with the additional resources we need” she said.