By NICOLE VALICEK
OVERALL crime has decreased by 4.9 per cent in Hobsons Bay but key areas including assault are on the rise, the latest crime statistics have revealed.
According to the figures, 6524 crimes were recorded in Hobsons Bay between 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2013 – down from 6880 from 1 January 2012 to December 2012.
However, crime against the person jumped 10.3 per cent from 751 in the last quarter to 828 this quarter.
Assaults jumped 12 per cent from 594 in 2012 to 665 last year, and assaults excluding family violence rose 4.6 per cent to 386 in 2012 compared to 369 last year.
Drug offences also jumped 46.2 per cent from 249 offences compared to 364 in this quarter.
Hobsons Bay Police Inspector Richard Paterson said police continue to be challenged by assaults involving non-family violence and family violence incidents.
“Family violence incidents continue to contribute to an increase in assault-related crime,” he said.
Insp Paterson said a Summer Policing Team was established in response to the influx of visitors over summer to focus on crime and public order issues.
“Hobsons Bay has a dedicated team focused on family violence, which develops safety plans to assist repeat victims and strategies to deter recidivist offending in family violence incidents,” he added.
Insp Paterson said alcohol consumption impacts on assaults offences and in response police work in partnership with licensed venues to reinforce safe and responsible service of alcohol.
The quarterly crime statistics show reductions in property damage (3.1 per cent), residential burglary (16.2 per cent), burglary-other (25.7 per cent) and crime against property (11.5 per cent).
Other notable drops can be seen in theft from motor vehicle (20.7 per cent) from 1082 in 2012 compared to 858 last year, and theft of motor vehicle which dramatically dropped by 40.4 per cent from 386 compared to 230 in 2013.
“This has been achieved through a focused approach by the uniform and investigation units,” Insp Paterson said.
“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.”
Insp Paterson said road policing continues to be a priority within the municipality with three fatal collisions this quarter where speed, fatigue and distraction were causal factors.
“As a result, our focus has been on speed, distraction offences and hoon driving,” he said.
