Media Release: Key crime measures decrease with criminal incident rates at their lowest since the year ending 2005

The Crime Statistics Agency (CSA) released the Victorian recorded crime statistics for the year ending 30 September 2022 today. 

In the 12 months to 30 September 2022 the criminal incident rate decreased 4.3% to 5,217.5 per 100,000 Victorians, the lowest level since the year ending 2005. Similarly, the overall criminal incidents decreased, down 3.6% or 12,938 to 343,982 incidents. The changes in Breach of Chief Health Officer (CHO) public health directions* related to the COVID-19 pandemic in the last 12 months drove this decrease (down 76.3% or 9,306 to 2,895 incidents).

The rate of recorded offences decreased 5.0% to 7,196.4 per 100,000 Victorians in the last 12 months, as did the number of offences, down 4.3% to 474,446. Both family-violence and non-family-violence related offences have decreased in the last 12 months (down 3.3% to 109,530 offences and down 4.6% to 364,916 offences respectively).

Alleged offender incidents decreased 3.0% to 158,349 in the last 12 months, as did the rate down 3.8% to 2,727.7 per 100,000. The changes in Breach of Chief Health Officer (CHO) public health directions** related to the COVID-19 pandemic drove this decrease (down 72.2% or 9,112 to 3,501 incidents). 

The victimisation rate decreased by 1.8% to 3,022.4 reports per 100,000 Victorians. The number of person-related victim reports (down 1.1% to 199,261) and organisation reports (down 1.3% to 65,423). 

Family incidents decreased 1.1% in the last 12 months, with 91,500 incidents recorded across Victoria. The rate of family incidents also decreased, down 1.8% to 1,387.9 incidents per 100,000 Victorians. 

CSA Chief Statistician Fiona Dowsley said that “the notable decreases in recorded crime levels during the COVID-19 pandemic period have contributed to the lowest Victorian criminal incident rates since 2005“.

“Decreases in Breaches of Chief Health Officer public orders are the main driver of the decrease in Alleged offender incidents in the last 12 months, with offences for Breaches of Chief Health Officer directions related to the COVID-19 pandemic measures peaking during 2020” Ms Dowsley said.

More detailed information is available on the latest crime data webpage.

For further information please contact: 
Crime Statistics Agency 
Email: info@crimestatistics.vic.gov.au (External link)

* To represent Breach of CHO offences, F92 Public health and safety offences is used as a proxy as the majority of the offences recorded in the group relate to Breach of CHO offences.
** To represent Breach of CHO offences, F90 Miscellaneous offences is used as a proxy as the majority of the offences recorded in the group relate to Breach of CHO offences.