CRIME in the Kingston local government area increased by nearly 18 per cent in 2023. New figures released by the Crime Statistics Agency show that crime increased in the Kingston municipality by 17.8 per cent in 2023 compared to the year prior. The increase is significantly more than the statewide increase of 8.4 per cent.
The offence rate per 100,000 people in Kingston in 2023 was around 7762. That figure is the highest recorded in the local government area in the last decade. In total there were 12,594 total offences recorded in the Kingston LGA last year across 2023. More than 40 per cent of them went unsolved by police.
Steal from motor vehicle was the most common offence recorded in Kingston. Cheltenham is the local suburb most affected by crime, followed by Moorabbin, Clayton South, Mentone, and Mordialloc. CSA chief statistician Fiona Dowsley said that increases in “high volume property and deception offences categories, particularly in thefts from motor vehicles and retail stores” is to blame for the statewide crime increase. “An increase in these acquisitive offence types reflects in part a return to pre-pandemic trends, but also is in line with current cost of living pressures,” she said.
Victoria Police deputy commissioner of regional operations Neil Paterson said that the statewide increase represented a return to pre-COVID crime levels. “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. While this is positive, that doesn’t mean there aren’t areas of concern.
“Child offending remains a real challenge for police and significant driver of serious and violent crime in Victoria. Victoria Police continue to hold these people accountable, with youth gang members targeted as part of Operation Alliance and young burglars and car thieves continually arrested and put before the courts under Operation Trinity. These operations have led to over 5,000 combined arrests over the past year, with Operation Trinity alone leading to the arrest of almost four burglars and car thieves every day – the vast majority children.
“While police will continue to patrol known hotspots every evening until dawn as part of Trinity, we are also calling on the community to play their part and lock their properties and cars.”
Crime in the neighboring Frankston municipality also increased more than the statewide average in 2023.
To view the full crime statistics visit crimestatistics.vic.gov.au/crime-statistics/latest-crime-data-by-area
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 3rd April 2024
