While the actual total of criminal offences rose by 25,250 to 630,592 — or 4.2 per cent more than the year before — population growth is factored into calculations.
There were 8885.5 offences per 100,000 people.
Analysis shows that after years of sharp increases, overall crime rates are beginning to slow.
“While it’s heartening that crime appears to be stabilising, it will take time before offending reduces to levels more traditionally seen in Victoria,” Deputy Commissioner Hill said.
The same analysis, however, predicts a major reduction likely won’t come immediately with current ongoing issues, such as the cost of living, recidivism and the increase in technological offending.
“With 230,213 different victims of crime, we are seeing far too many innocent community members harmed,” Deputy Commissioner Hill said.
“This is simply not acceptable, as we want Victorians to not only be safe, but feel safe in their community.”
Victoria Police says crimes such as theft from and of a motor vehicle, retail theft and other thefts, which heavily impact the crime rate, accounting for a third of all crimes, are unlikely to reduce during the current challenging financial environment.
Victoria Police arrested 26,645 people a total of 78,014 times last year, focusing more on those committing serious and violent crimes.
This included the arrest of four youth gang members each day, the seizure of 17,400 knives and machetes, and record family violence arrests that saw one offender arrested every half hour.
Victoria Police is rolling out new procedures and technology this year to further combat offending and enhance efficiency.
Key crime themes
Car theft
- Car theft at highest levels since 2001, with over 32,000 cars stolen last year.
- Number of cars stolen has risen by 96.9 per cent over past three years.
- Key mimicking or cloning technology accounting for 30 to 40 per cent of thefts, according to Victoria Police intelligence.
- Last year, police seized around 800 of these devices during search warrants.
Retail theft
- There were 41,547 retail theft offences — an increase of 2393 offences or 6.1 per cent.
- As part of the ongoing Operation Pulse, police have arrested almost 710 people and laid more than 1450 charges for crimes committed at Eastland, Fountain Gate, Highpoint, Northland, Bayside, Werribee, Southland or Watergardens shopping centres.
Home burglaries
- Aggravated home burglaries reduced for the first time since 2020, falling by 4.1 per cent (7151 offences, down from 7458).
- When burglaries can’t be prevented, swift enforcement occurs. Operation Trinity, targeting home burglaries, led to the arrest of 612 burglars a combined 1436 times last year.
Child offending
- Overall offences committed by child offenders increased (23,690 offender incidents, up 2.3 per cent).
- Police arrested 1223 children a combined 6997 times.
- Children committed 57.6 per cent of carjackings, 52.6 per cent of home invasions, 47.8 per cent of aggravated burglaries and 62.4 per cent of robberies.
- Youth gang members are most commonly responsible for these crimes, with police making 1480 gang-related arrests and laying 4300 charges last year as part of Operation Alliance.
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