There were 630,592 criminal offences recorded in Victoria last year – an increase of 25,250 offences or 4.2%.
The crime rate, which factors in population growth, rose by 2.4% (8,885.5 offences per 100,000 people).
Victoria Police analysis suggests positive signs are beginning to emerge, with overall crime starting to stabilise after several years of sharp increases.
However, the same analysis forecasts any major reduction in overall crime is unlikely to be imminent, given ongoing issues such as the cost of living, recidivism, and the increased use of technology in offending.
Victoria Police arrested 26,645 people a total of 78,014 times last year, with a more focussed approach directed towards those committing serious and violent crimes.
This included the arrest of four youth gang members each day, the seizure of a record 17,400 knives and machetes, and record family violence arrests that saw one offender arrested every half hour.
Locally, Mildura has seen a rise in breaching family violence orders over the last year, however the latest data shows a drop in criminal incidents across Mildura, down the twelve months to December by 7.9%.
Criminal damage, theft from cars and theft also showing decreases.
Swan Hill has seen a 3.8% increase in criminal incidents.
