News

Police | March 25, 2019

Crime on the rise in the Southern Grampians

The Nationals Member for Lowan, Emma Kealy says the release of new figures by the Victorian Crime Statistics Agency show that crime in the Southern Grampians Shire Council has risen 22.5 per cent in 2018, with 1568 offences compared to 1280 in 2017.

The number of offences has also risen sharply in the Horsham Rural City Council with a rise of 26.24 per cent, putting the Council in the top five Local Government Areas in Victoria with the highest recorded offence rates per head of population.

Across Victoria there is a worrying trend of increased crimes against the person, with the current data showing the highest ever quarterly result for this category.

In the category of possession of methylamphetamine (ICE) offences are up 16 per cent for the last 12 months and 132.2 per cent since the election of the Andrews Labor Government.

Of most concern is that 15 to 19 year olds are the largest cohort for crimes against the person, and drug use and possession across Victoria is up 12.3 per cent from last year.

“The over representation of the 15 to 19 year old cohort in violent crimes against the person and its relationship with the increase in drug use and possession is a public policy area that requires urgent attention,” Ms Kealy said.

“If we don’t take urgent remedial action now, this 15 to 19 year old cohort will become more hardened and violent criminals in later years.

“Daniel Andrews is not only failing on crime, he is failing to tackle the causes of crime.

“Prior to the 2018 State election the Liberal Nationals committed $3 million to build a new police station in Coleraine and to develop a master plan for a new Hamilton Police Station and Courthouse precinct.

“Our hardworking police do a fantastic job with the resources at hand, but Daniel Andrews has watered down bail laws, weakened sentencing and failed to equip our regional police with adequate resources to protect our streets, putting the lives and safety of all Victorians at risk.”