A SHARP rise in drug and car theft offences has driven another spike in Maribyrnong crime.
Figures released by Victoria Police last week show crime in Maribyrnong rose by 7.3 per cent last year — up from 8043 offences the previous year to 8629.
Crime figures rose in all major categories other than robbery, property damage and burglary.
Drug offences jumped 32 per cent from 670 to 885, vehicle theft also surged 32 per cent from 403 to 532, and theft from motor vehicle rose 25 per cent from 1154 to 1438.
Footscray’s Inspector Tony Long said local police had achieved improvements in some areas, but he conceded the overall crime rate was still too high.
“Looking at our ‘per 100,000 population’ statistics, we have achieved pleasing results with solid reductions in robberies, assaults excluding family violence, property damage and burglaries,” Inspector Long said.
“This has been offset by disappointing results in the areas of thefts of, and from, motor vehicles.”
Inspector Long said a crime impact team had been rolled out in Maribyrnong to drive down the vehicle crime rate by targeting repeat offenders.
“The team is already impacting positively on this category and I hope to be able to talk about improved results next quarter.”
He said a focus on the Footscray shopping area had helped cut antisocial behaviour in the area.
A 9.5 per cent increase in crime was recorded statewide, fuelled by drug offences jumping 19 per cent and family violence blowing out by almost 40 per cent.
Shadow police minister Jacinta Allan said the figures showed the government’s “so-called tough-on-crime stance” was in tatters following $65 million of Victoria Police budget cuts and the slashing of 350 jobs.
“The Baillieu government’s key election promise to get tough on crime has failed,” she said. “This is what happens when you ignore the causes of crime and fail to put in any measures to prevent it.”
Greens justice spokeswoman Sue Pennicuik said the figures highlighted the need for an independent agency to assess the statistics to understand what was driving the crime rate.
