Crime clampdown

YARRA Ranges police vowed to focus on reducing property crimes and serious road collisions after Victoria Police statistics last week showed increases in those areas.
Yarra Ranges Police Service Area Acting Inspector Alan Price said the region had seen a drop in assaults excluding family violence, theft of motor vehicles, and theft from motor vehicles.
He put increases in family violence and drug crimes (33.5 per cent) down to an increase in reports to police, and said property crime continued to be a major focus in the region although its increase was lower than other areas in the state.
He said the area remained at high risk for road collisions.
“But we have also had some good results with our road policing strategies by reducing serious collisions by almost 10 per cent,” he said.
The figures showed total crime rose by 11 per cent in the Cardinia Police Service Area between July 2010 and June 2011 and family violence was still increasing.
Cardinia Inspector Chris Major said the statistics reflected Cardinia being one of the fastest growing outer metropolitan areas in the state.
He said a 27.8 per cent crimes against the person was largely due to significant increases in family violence.
“This figure is quite alarming, however it is positive to note that more family members are now speaking out and reporting domestic related assaults which in the past may have been kept within the family home,” Insp Major said.
“To cater for the increased number of reports of family violence we are establishing a dedicated Family Violence Team that will commence this month.
“The team will provide more effective and efficient follow up on reported matters and ensure that appropriate referrals are made and that breaches of Family Violence Intervention Orders are acted on in a timely manner.”
Police will also focus on property damage, residential burglaries and theft of motor vehicles which have all seen slight increases.
Police will also continue to target drug related crime, with drug offences increasing by 23.7 per cent.
The statistics show that fewer serious collisions are occurring in the PSA despite the year being one of the wettest on record.