By Casey Neill
Crime dropped 10 per cent in Greater Dandenong over the past 12 months, latest figures show.
The Crime Statistics Agency released the numbers for the year to 31 March on Thursday 14 June.
They showed a year-long downward trend in the municipality’s crime rate.
There were 18,289 offences recorded in Greater Dandenong for the latest period, down from 20,337 at the same time the previous year.
The offence rate per 100,000 population was down nearly 12 per cent.
Both results were in line with the state-wide average decreases.
Greater Dandenong Local Area Commander Inspector Matthew Mulcahy welcomed the results.
“We will continue to focus on reducing and deterring crime in Greater Dandenong and as always want to thank the public for their support,” he said.
“Due to the hard work of local police we are proud to say that we have seen some great reductions in assaults, burglary, property damage and theft.”
There were 124 fewer assaults, 574 fewer burglaries, 212 fewer property damage offences and 1165 fewer thefts.
“Our divisional response unit have been working hard proactively targeting drug dealing and trafficking and that has resulted in a lot of arrests and a 15 per cent increase in those crimes,” Insp Mulcahy said.
He said public nuisance offences increased by 39.8 per cent.
“This is due to us having a highly-visible police presence with our Frontline Tactical Unit in high-risk areas targeting anti-social behaviour,” he said.
Insp Mulcahy also noted an increase in crimes related to family violence.
“It’s important that we get these reports,” he said.
“We want all community members who feel unsafe in their own home or with their family to come forward to us.”
Crime Statistics Agency chief statistician Catherine Andersson said a reduction in property and deception incidents drove the state-wide decrease.
“The number of burglary incidents is the lowest in seven years,” she said.
Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Andrew Crisp said a significant factor in the “disappointing” rise in sexual assaults across the state was that victims were more willing to report to police and support agencies.
New sexual offences had also allowed police to further target “evil” online predators.
“Social media and on-line platforms provide that sort of opportunity to engage in this type of behaviour but through the introduction of these new offences it enables us to intervene and act before that contact becomes physical,” he said.
