By Belinda Nolan
RECENT police crackdowns are believed to be behind a significant drop in crime across Hobsons Bay over the past year.
The latest police statistics have revealed massive reductions in crime for the municipality across 11 out of 14 categories. Overall, crime in Hobsons Bay has plummeted by more than 13 per cent since July 2008, with 1068 fewer crimes recorded than in the previous 12 months.
The biggest drops were in non-residential burglaries and theft from cars, down 21.1 per cent and 19.7 per cent respectively. Also on the decline were property crimes, down 18 per cent on the previous year.
Police have also welcomed an 8.4 per cent plunge in assault and an 8.1 per cent reduction in crimes against the person.
Acting Hobsons Bay Police Inspector Angelo Ferrara said the results were promising but there was still more work to be done to drive crime down in every category. Most concerning for police was an almost 25 per cent jump in robberies and a 28.4 per cent increase in the “other” crime category.
Inspector Ferrara said police were alarmed by the growing number of street robberies but said the rise was the result of a state-wide trend rather than a local one. “It’s obviously an area of concern for police and one that we will be looking at,” Insp Ferrara said.
“With that much of an increase we will clearly need to target that area more closely but it’s important to understand that Hobsons Bay is certainly not unique.”
Insp Ferrara said he was pleased with the overall results, which were a testament to concentrated police efforts over the past year.
Following the release of the crime statistics, the State Government announced a boost to police numbers, which will see 120 new police officers deployed to crime hotspots by next year.
The extra recruits will be assigned to the Operational Response Unit and the Liquor Licensing Taskforce.
