Victoria Police crime statistics show assaults, excluding family violence, increased by 27% from 419 offences in 2012 to 533 in 2013 in Maribyrnong. Police Inspector Long said that ‘many of the non-family violence assaults occur between people known to each other and often as a result of excessive alcohol consumption or drug use’.
Last year the Maroondah police service area experienced a 25% increase in crimes against the person. Peter Wheeler, Maroondah Police Inspector, said that ‘assaults are through the roof and police will continue to target hot spots for violence in the community, such as licenced venues and transport hubs’.
In Melton last year assaults were up 8.4% from 1164 to 1262 reported offences.
Also, last year in the Greater Dandenong there was an increase of 11.3% in assaults, with 1977 in 2013 compared to 1777 in 2012. Assaults excluding family violence also increased by 17.3% from 956 in 2012 to 1121 in 2013. Police Inspector Bruce Kitchen said that ‘non-family violence assaults continue to be an issue for Greater Dandenong’.