Assaults way up

By Lia Bichel
CASEY’S top cop said police would continue their attempts to combat crime after the municipality had the highest increase in reported assaults across the state last year.
This according to figures recently released from Victoria Police. The recorded crime statistics compare the 12 months to January 2011 with the 12 months to January 2010.
The statistics show that while there has been a reduction in overall reported crime in Casey in the past year, the amount of reported assaults was up 23.7 per cent, or 329 offences- 60 when excluding family violence
Crime against a person was also up 13.4 per cent and robbery was up 2.5 percent.
Inspector Andrew Miles said approximately 50 percent of the reported assaults occurred in public places.
“Generally we are disappointed,” he said.
“About 50 per cent of the assaults occur on residential premises, but we are satisfied with this on the basis that people are reporting assaults. In days gone by, many assaults have remained unreported.”
Insp Miles said police would combat the issue with continued pro-active operations in public places and near the vicinity of public transport hubs.
Insp Miles said he believed ongoing pro-active operations, increased public education and focus on repeat offenders has contributed to a decrease in other crimes in Casey.
Theft from cars decreased by 17.2 per cent, theft of cars were decreased by 17.6 per cent, residential burglaries decreased by 12.5 per cent and other burglaries decreased by 19 per cent.
Traffic statistics also improved, as the amount of fatalities from October 2009 to September 2010, compared to the previous 12 months, dropped 32.4 percent and the amount of serious injuries dropped 22.6 per cent.
Across the state, the Victoria Police figures show that overall recorded crime across the state has dropped by 6.9 per cent.
They also show that across Victoria, recorded property crime has continued to decline with property damage dropping by 10.9 per cent, theft of vehicles down 8.8 per cent, theft from vehicles down 4. 9 per cent, residential burglaries down by 4.9 per cent and robberies reduced by 4.6 per cent.