CRIME detection rates are up in Swan Hill as a result of increased police presence, local authorities say.
A new Victorian Crime Statistics Agency report shows a seven per cent increase in busts since last year.
Collated data from October 2014 to September 2015 indicate that there were 149 more detections of criminal activity than the 2013-2014 period.
Despite the increase, the report declares that this is still a “stable” level.
Deputy Commissioner of regional operations Andrew Crisp told a press conference in Melbourne last week that the average crime rate across the state has increased by four per cent.
“When you look at the total list of offences, it’s up six per cent,” he added.
DC Crisp said the rise in detection rates was directly attributable to increased police presence, however, and Swan Hill Police Local Area Commander Daniel Davison said the same was true locally.
“A higher police presence in the community will always see us with an increased detection rate,” he said.
“Our figures seem to be in line with state figures, so clearly there’s a commitment to policing these particular areas,” he said.
The biggest increases have been in offences against justice procedures (which include perjury, bribe, threaten or prevent a witness from attending court, destroy or damage evidence), theft, and drug use and possession.
Ice has come close to rivaling marijuana in terms of drug offences. Weapons charges have also been on the increase statewide.
“That proactive work does see those figures reflect hard work of the officers, especially with drugs and weapons,” LAC Davison said.
According to DC Crisp, those detected with weapons offences were often linked to other criminal acts.
Family violence incidents have also seen a 9.6 per cent increase around the state.
“Positive for us to see that mainly women have the confidence to report, however we still see some concerns in relation to underreporting,” DC Crisp said.
