Police statistics on the rise

By Bridget Cook
A PRO-ACTIVE approach to policing in Greater Dandenong has seen an increase in reported crime over the past year.
Crime statistics, from April 2008 to March 2009, show an increase in crime across the board.
Inspector Charlie Allen said Greater Dandenong police had taken a more hands-on approach to policing and had improved “pro-active patrolling.” “We are out there charging more people, but it creates a higher crime rate,” he said.
Between April 2007 and March 2008 a total of 12,519 offences were reported in the area. Over the past 12 months crime rates have increased by 4.6 per cent, with 13,094 reported, thanks to changes in approach to targeting particular crimes including domestic violence and drug offences.
Inspector Charlie Allen said the road toll was another focus for Greater Dandenong police, with region five having the highest toll of all regions.
There were 49 serious injury collisions between January and March 2008, but only 28 during the same period of 2009. Although police statistics showed a significant reduction in serious injury collisions in the first quarter of 2009 compared with the same period in 2008, it still counts for a quarter of Victoria’s 2009 road toll so far.