Data released by the Crime Statistics Agency, for the 12 months ending in June 2025, highlighted a concerning rise in reported incidents.
Mitchell Police Service Area Acting Inspector Darren Huffer said, while increased crime, particularly relating to domestic violence incidents, was a concern, the influx of reports was a positive indication.
“Family violence contravenes are up, there’s almost 1000 reports, which is almost three a day,” Acting Insp Huffer said.
“The increase, it’s not a good thing, we can’t tolerate family violence, but it’s reassuring to know the public are reporting it so we can investigate it.”
Acting Insp Huffer said the rise in “detection offences”, such as drug crime and handling stolen goods, was also not an entirely bad sign.
“The fact that we are detecting that sort of thing occurring means, even though crime is up, in one sense it shows that we’re actioning it. With those crimes, if we don’t detect it, it doesn’t get a report.” he said.
“The handling stolen goods, the shop theft, shop steal, the drug crime, which is bait and traffic, and drug possess and use, are all criteria that are really up, which are good police engagement pieces to show that we are detecting and holding that to account.
“The ones that were down were harassments, property damages, burglaries and assaults.”
The acting inspector also said, while youth crime had risen, young people aged 10 to 17 made up less than 15 per cent of offenders, and road fatalities were down by about 50 per cent.
A standout from the data set was the ranking of Mitchell Shire towns with the highest number of reports, which placed Seymour at the top of the list.
Acting Insp Huffer acknowledged the valid concern of community members; however, he said he hoped to assure them that police were working hard to keep them safe.
“Almost two years ago, there was a big expansion of frontline members and Seymour got additional members,” he said.
“With extra members, the detection of crime goes up.
“There’s a real drive, at the moment, to have our units out on the road engaged as much as possible, so when the community is at its busiest, we have our units out there, having that engagement and being proactive.”
Following on from the release of the crime statistics, Victoria Police will be hosting an online Mitchell PSA Neighbourhood Policing Forum, also incorporating Strathbogie Shire, on Thursday, November 13 from 6pm to 8pm.
The forum will address community concerns, such as current crime trends and crime prevention, young people, family violence, road policing, and drugs and drug-related crime.
To register, visit tinyurl.com/3nuyruhe
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