By Matthew Sims
Recorded criminal offences increased by two per cent across Hobsons Bay in the year to December 2022, according to new Crime Statistics Agency [CSA] data.
The data showed there were 5945 recorded offences during the December 2021 to December 2022 period in Hobsons Bay, which was a slight jump compared to the 5829 recorded offences during the December 2020 to December 2021 period.
Criminal offences in Newport jumped by 14.5 per cent in the year to December, with theft offences in Newport rising by 21.7 per cent.
In Laverton, the data reflected there were 691 recorded offences, which was a 41.3 per cent jump, with drug use and possession offences more than tripling to 56 offences.
However, there were a number of local reductions in recorded offences, including theft offences dropping by 7.5 per cent in Altona Meadows and robbery offences dropping by 32 per cent across Hobsons Bay.
In Maribyrnong, the data reflected a 0.9 per cent increase in recorded criminal offences, with 8695 offences recorded in the year up to December.
Footscray’s data showed an 23.3 per cent increase in the number of drug use and possession offences recorded, while theft offences fell by 7.4 per cent to 977 recorded offences.
In Braybrook, there was a 20.5 per cent reduction in theft offences, while drug use and possession offences increased by 22.1 per cent to 94 offences.
Yarraville saw a five-fold increase in drug use and possession offences in the year up to December from 11 to 55 offences recorded.
A Victoria Police spokesperson said it was “very pleasing” that overall crime was below pre-pandemic levels across Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay despite increasing slightly compared to 2021 figures.
“There’s been some really encouraging results in the local community, with fewer robberies and fewer burglaries and break-ins particularly when looking at pre-pandemic levels,” the spokesperson said.
“We have seen a slight increase in drug offending, which indicates we are continuing to make arrests as part of our proactive targeting of drug offenders, whether it be those dealing and trafficking drugs or those in possession of illicit substances.
“Car theft and home burglaries will continue to be a focus for police in Hobsons Bay and Maribyrnong, and we will continue to have police out and about to prevent and respond to this offending.”
