Whittlesea police plan to crack down further on drugs and family violence following an increase in offences in the past year.
Figures from the Crime Statistics Agency for the year to June 30, released last Thursday, reveal drug use and possession offences in the municipality jumped from 460 to 579.
Drug dealing and trafficking crimes went from 91 to 115, while the figure for cultivation or manufacturing was up from 47 to 73.
“The increase in drug offences is becoming more of a concern to us because we know that the increase in drug crimes manifests itself in other ways, particularly in property crimes,” Whittlesea police’s Inspector Paul Tysoe said.
“Family violence continues to remain our number one priority.
“The data reflects a greater preparedness to talk to us about violence that’s occurring in the home and it reminds us that family violence needs to be our focus.
“Crimes against the person are also on the increase and we’re slowly putting in place measures to keep it under control by increasing education, monitoring liquor licensing and working closely with our support networks.”
Assaults jumped from 1082 to 1170.
Inspector Tysoe said theft of and from motor vehicles was also on the rise and police were working to keep those statistics down.
Transport regulation offences spiked in the 12 months from 1 to 17.
The increases buck an overall 8 per cent fall in crime in Whittlesea in the past 12 months; homicides fell from five to one while thefts dropped from 5505 to 4850. Weapons and explosives offences were unchanged at 369.
“Overall, it’s pleasing to see that crime rates are generally down on last year,” Inspector Tysoe said.
“It’s a reflection of some of the hard work by police that’s being put in and the collaborative work with other community groups”
In Hume, breaches of orders, weapon and drug crimes had the most significant increases.
Hume’s Acting Inspector Anthony Brown said police were diligently pursuing breaches and acting on leads.
“That reflects our commitment to ensuring the orders are upheld,” he said.
