Crime rate rises again in Campaspe

In the 12 months before that, 2571 criminal incidents were registered in Campaspe. Last year, that number rose to 2909.

In 2023, Echuca accounted for 1839 of 2909 total criminal incidents in Campaspe, with Kyabram 411, Rochester 143, Tongala 94 and Rushworth 61.

This is the highest increase in comparable data since 2019 when during that calendar year, there were 2918 criminal incidents recorded in Campaspe.

In 2023, breaching family violence orders topped the five principal offence subgroups, with criminal damage, stealing from a motor vehicle, other theft and breaching bail conditions rounding out list.

Despite a decrease of 61 incidents, criminal damage was still the second highest type of offence.

In comparison, stealing from a motor vehicle increased from 202 to 244, other theft from 179 to 226, and breaching bail conditions rose from 138 to 218.

Most incidents in the shire occurred in houses, accounting for 751 incidents, increasing from the 717 recorded last year.

However, there was a decrease in crimes committed in streets, lanes, and footpaths, falling from 454 in 2022 to 366 last year.

As a percentage, the rise in Campapse Shire’s criminal incident rate was higher than the state of Victoria’s by 2.5 per cent.

The number of criminal incidents recorded statewide by Victoria Police in the 12 months before December 31 was 385,782, up 10.6 per cent from 348,670 incidents recorded in the same period the previous year.

Deputy Commissioner of Regional Operations Neil Paterson said the increase in crime mirrors society’s return to normality following two years in a pandemic.

“Crime in Victoria has gradually increased over the past few years as Victorian life has returned to normality post pandemic,” he said.

“When population is considered, Victoria pleasingly still has its third lowest crime rate at any point over the past decade – ahead of only 2022 and the COVID-marred 2021.”