CRIME in Frankston is on the up, increasing by nearly 20 percent in the 2023/2024 financial year. The Crime Statistics Agency released its yearly figures last week. It revealed that there were 16,252 offences recorded within the Frankston municipality in the year ending June 2024. That figure is a 19.2 percent increase on the year prior. The number of offences recorded in the Frankston LGA is nearly at a ten-year high. In the last decade, only the year ending June 2016 had a higher offence rate per 100,000 Frankston residents.
There were more than 2200 breaches of family violence orders in the Frankston LGA. It was comfortably the most recorded offence. Frankston was by far the local suburb most affected by crime – there were 8216 offences recorded in Frankston compared to 2550 in second-ranked Seaford. Steal from motor vehicle, theft, criminal damage, and breach bail conditions also feature among the most common offences in Frankston.
In the nearby Mornington Peninsula municipality, total offences recorded increased by more than 22 percent in the year ending June 2024. Breach family violence order was again the most recorded offence. Mornington was the suburb worst affected by crime on the Mornington Peninsula, followed closely by Rosebud and Hastings.
In the Kingston LGA, total offences recorded dropped by 1.6 percent. Stealing from a motor vehicle was the most commonly recorded offence in the municipality.
Statewide the number of offences recorded by Victoria Police in the year up to 30 June 2024 was 552,228. That figure is a 9.1 percent increase from the year prior.
In a statement, Victoria Police said it was especially concerned about sharp increases in youth crime and family violence. “Around a quarter of all crime can be directly attributed to the scourge of family violence, with Victoria Police called out to a family violence incident every five minutes,” Victoria Police acting deputy commissioner of regional operations Chris Gilbert said. “The reality is behind every statistic is a victim of crime. These people and their experiences are the reason our members doggedly pursue those who endanger the community.”
Gilbert also highlighted the importance of protecting homes and cars from burglaries. He said “we understand many in the community are anxious about the increasing prevalence of intruders entering homes. Your home should be your castle, and this is why 70 additional frontline police, dog squad members, highway patrol officers, and the public order response team continue to swarm Melbourne’s suburbs every single night – specifically targeting burglars and car thieves as the air wing watches from above.
“Victoria’s four fastest growing crimes are all related to opportunistic offending – theft from motor vehicle, retail theft, motor vehicle theft, and the theft of other items such as petrol. Operation Trinity has made 1,550 arrests over the last year – an average of more than four burglars and thieves arrested across metropolitan Melbourne every day. Police continue to see far too many properties burgled and cars stolen due to unlocked doors and windows, so we urge the community to take simple measures such as checking your home and car is locked before heading to bed.”
First published in the Frankston Times – 8 October 2024