By Danielle Kutchel
Overall crime is down in Casey, according to the latest data from the Crime Statistics Agency.
Once again, however, Casey has recorded a horrifying increase in family violence incidents.
The total number of incidents was up more than 12 per cent from last year’s numbers.
It’s also higher than the state family incident rate; for the year ending March 2021, the family incident rate per 100,000 of population in Casey was 1480.4, compared to the Victorian rate of 1389.1.
Females remained the most commonly affected family members, and people aged between 25 and 34 are most affected, according to the data.
Casey’s devastating numbers were again by far the highest in the southern metro policing region, and also outstrip our nearest neighbours.
While Casey recorded 5483 family incidents to the year ending March 2021, Greater Dandenong recorded 2834, and Cardinia Shire recorded 1535.
Family violence has been steadily increasing in Casey since 2018.
The total criminal incidents in Casey to 31 March 2021 dropped 5.5 per cent compared to the same time in 2020.
But almost half of the criminal incidents in Casey remained unsolved as at the end of March.
By the end of the quarter, 30.2 per cent of criminal incidents had seen charges laid, 41.4 per cent were unsolved and 28.4 per cent had no charges laid.
The majority of crimes were committed in a house, although the total number of crimes committed at a house decreased slightly from 6074 in 2020 to 6065 this year.
Crimes committed on the street increased by more than 700 incidents.
Cranbourne and Cranbourne North recorded an increase in criminal incidents – by almost four per cent in the former, and two per cent in the latter.
Narre Warren, Berwick and Hampton Park all saw decreases.
Theft from a motor vehicle was the most common offence with 1964 incidents recorded.
This was followed by public health and safety offences – relating to the pandemic and Chief Health Officer’s directions – at 1513 incidents, compared to just one in the previous year.
For family violence support, please contact:
Safe Steps Victoria’s 24/7 family violence response centre
Tel: 1800 015 188 (24 hours)
Webchat: safesteps.org.au (9am – midnight Mon-Fri)
If you are in immediate danger, call Triple Zero on 000.
