New Victorian Crime Data Shows Spike in Reported Family Incidents

The most recently launched batch of crime data by the Crime Statistics Agency has captured a sharp increase in Victoria’s domestic violence offences.

Drawing on Victoria Police data, the agency found that during the 2018/19 financial year the total number of recorded family incidents climbed to 82,652 across the state; representing an 8.6% increase on last year’s documented incidents.

A child was recorded as present in nearly one third (31.17%) of these incidents.

Family incidents are constituted by any event attended by Victoria Police where a Victoria Police Risk Assessment and Risk Management Report was completed and recorded on LEAP.

Chief statistician, Fiona Dowsley, told The Age that the overall rise in incidents could be partially explained by more people reporting family violence this year.

In a report by the ABC, Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton suggested that an increase in police resources devoted to investigating domestic violence could also explain the increase.

The new dataset also provides powerful insight into the geographical spread of family violence across the state and the gendered dynamics of family violence.

This financial year Latrobe recorded the highest rate of incident reports  (3,466.0 per 100,000 population) among all police and local government regions, shortly followed by East Gippsland (3,457.4 per 100,000) and Mildura (3,220.4 per 100,00). 

In the last 12 months, 74.8% (61,826) of the 82,653 family members affected by family incidents were female and 25.0% (20,691) were male.

Overall, Victoria’s average rate of family incidents increased by 6.4% since last year, reaching an average rate of 1253.1 incidents per 100,000 people.

The Crime Statistics Agency publishes recorded crime statistics every quarter.