The overall crime rate in Victoria has increased by 1.6 per cent in the last year, the second year resulting in an increase.
Victoria police processed 12.2 percent more offenders in the 2012/13 year, with high increases in drug charges, family incident cases and deception cases.
Leading the figures were family incident reports, with 60,829 submitted by police in the year, a 21.6 per cent increase.
Chief Police Commissioner Ken Lay says the latest statistics showed the increase in crime against the person was still being primarily driven by a rise in family violence-related crime.
“Offences arising from family violence incidents accounted for more than a third of all crime against the person offences over the past year,” he said.
“We know that family violence related crime is significantly impacting on our crime statistics. Family violence related crime against the person has increased by nearly 400 per cent. This is mainly due to increase in assaults.
“It’s alarming that such a high volume of crime is being committed in the home and that people are at risk in their own homes.”
Also on the rise are drug charges, up by 12 per cent, and deception cases, including a 9.4 per cent increase in bicycle thefts and handling stolen goods up by 8 per cent.
Senior Victorians are also being targeted, with people aged 60 and over seeing a 14.3 per cent rise in crime.
Shadow Seniors Minister Jenny Mikakos attributed the rise to the Napthine government’s funding lapses.
“He slashed $100 million from Victoria Police’s budget and sacked 400 staff members,” she said in a statement.
Chief Commissioner Ken Lay said despite two consecutive years of crime rates increasing, the 2012/13 rate was still significantly lower than in past years.
Over the last 10 years the crime rate has decreased by a total of 12 per cent (rates per 100,000 population). When looking at the raw numbers, the number of offences recorded has only increased by 1.9 per cent.
Victoria police says its key concerns now remain on tackling drug cases, domestic violence and the continued use of knives during assaults.