Key Figures: Year ending December 2021

Statewide figures

  • The number of criminal incidents recorded by Victoria Police in the year to 31 December 2021 was 349,452, down 13.2% from 402,754 incidents recorded in the same period last year. 
  • The number of offences recorded by Victoria Police in the year 31 December 2021 was 477,999. This is down 12.8% from 548,086 offences recorded in the same period last year.
  • Alleged offender incidents decreased 18.9% to 162,435 in the year to 31 December 2021, down from 200,225.
  • Victim reports decreased in the year to 31 December 2021, down 5.2% (14,424) to 265,565 victim reports.
  • Family incidents decreased in the year to 31 December 2021, down 1.5% from 92,513 to 91,144.
  • Alleged offender incidents with an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status decreased 10.2% to 13,126 in the year to 31 December 2021.
  • In the year to December 2021 the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status of those involved in Family incident increased for Affected family members (up 4.5% to 4,936) while Other parties increased (up 2.5% to 6,037).

 

Local Government Area level figures

Criminal Incidents

The highest criminal incident rates in Local Government Areas in the year ending December 2021 were:

  • Melbourne (14,717.3 incidents per 100,000 estimated resident population, up 0.9%)
  • Latrobe (10,489.5 incidents per 100,000 estimated resident population, down 17.2%)
  • Yarra (9,194.6 incidents per 100,000 estimated resident population, down 16.6%)
  • Greater Shepparton (8,790.6 incidents per 100,000 estimated resident population, down 2.0%)
  • Swan Hill (8,537.2 incidents per 100,000 estimated resident population, down 1.3%).

 

Recorded Offences

The highest recorded offence rates in Local Government Areas in the year ending December 2021 were:

  • Melbourne (20,060.8 offences per 100,000 estimated resident population, up 1.0%)
  • Latrobe (14,874.6 offences per 100,000 estimated resident population, down 17.2%)
  • Greater Shepparton (13,512.1 offences per 100,000 estimated resident population, down 1.1%)
  • Ararat (13,353.6 offences per 100,000 estimated resident population, up 2.0%)
  • Swan Hill (12,182.7 offences per 100,000 estimated resident population, up 0.3%).

 

Crime category trends 

For the year ending 31 December 2021, the offence subdivisions that showed significant upward trends in the last 24 months were:

Criminal Incidents Recorded Offences
  • Stalking, harassment & threatening behaviour
 

All other major offence categories did not show a significant upward trend over the last 24 months.

 

For the year ending 31 December 2021, the offence subdivisions that showed a significant downward trend in the last 24 months were:

Criminal Incidents Recorded Offences
  • Deception
  • Theft
  • Drug dealing and trafficking
  • Drug dealing and trafficking
  • Drug use and possession            
  • Drug use and possession
  • Breaches of orders

 

 
All other major offence categories did not show a significant upward trend over the last 24 months.

 

For a detailed breakdown of the data go to the latest crime data webpage and for explanatory information and definitions, see the Explanatory Notes and Glossary.