CRIME on the Mornington Peninsula has bucked the rising statewide trend according to the latest figures released by the Crime Statistics Agency.
While reported offences across Victoria in 2015 jumped by 8.1 per cent compared to 2014, crime on the peninsula remained “stable”, in the CSA’s opinion, with a 5.4 per cent rise between 2014 and 2015.
Crimes against the person, including assault, fell on the peninsula from 1579 in 2014 to 1410 last year. There were eight homicides last year and seven in 2014.
There were 10,997 reported crimes across the peninsula last year compared to 10,303 in 2014.
The crime statistics are released by the Crime Statistics Agency every quarter and the latest figures were published last Wednesday.
At a Melbourne media conference last Thursday Premier Daniel Andrews said he is unhappy at the statewide rise in crime.
“Victorians don’t want any excuses and I will offer none,” he said.
“Instead what I will say to every Victorian, and indeed, first among them, to the Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police Graham Ashton, if you need additional powers you will get them.
“If you need additional resources, you will get them.”
Victoria Police chief commissioner Graham Ashton said street gangs, such as the Apex gang who rioted in Melbourne CBD last Saturday evening, were mostly responsible for a rise in vehicle thefts and aggravated burglaries.
First published in the Mornington News – 22 March 2016
