By NICOLE VALICEK
CRIME in Hobsons Bay has declined, with the latest statistics revealing an improvement in a number of key areas.
Victoria Police crime statistic for the September quarter released last week show a slight 1.8 per cent decrease in offences across the municipality since the same time last year.
Overall crime dropped from 7621.2 offences in the September 2012 quarter to 7480.5 this year.
The statistics reveal significant reductions in key areas including robbery which experienced a 30.7 per cent drop, property damage saw an 8.3 per cent decrease, theft from motor vehicle was down 14 per cent and theft of motor vehicle 31.3 per cent.
Areas that did not experience a decrease include assault excluding family violence, which rose by 19.6 per cent, assault increased by 16.9 as did burglary (residential) by 8.3 per cent.
Meanwhile there has been a 2.7 per cent jump in offences recorded across Victoria.
Hobsons Bay Police Inspector Richard Paterson said the significant reductions in crime had been achieved through a focused approach by the uniform and investigations units.
“The Crime Impact Team has continued to use the recidivist offender strategy and targeted operations to focus on specific crimes and repeat offenders to achieve these results,” he said.
Insp Paterson said family violence incidents contributed to the increase in assault related crime.
“We continue to be challenged by assaults involving non-family violence and family violence incidents.”
“Hobson’s Bay has a dedicated team focused on family violence. This unit assists investigators, supports affected families and develops strategies to prevent reoccurrences.”
Insp Paterson said in response to the influx of summer visitors a Summer Policing Team would be established to focus on crime and public order issues along the foreshore.
He said road policing continued to be a priority within the municipality, with two fatal collisions this period.
“High speed impacts the consequence of vehicle accidents, turning non-injury collisions into serious injury collisions.
“As a result, our focus has been on speed, distraction offences and hoon driving.”
He said they received two additional speed measuring devices and additional training for all uniform members.
The Highway Patrol members and uniform members use these devices both on patrol and on targeted operations making us one of the few areas able to do so.
“This has significantly impacted on reducing our injury collisions.”
