Key Figures: Year ending March 2021

State wide figures

  • The number of criminal incidents recorded by Victoria Police in the year to 31 March 2021 was 387,793, down 5.1% from 408,423 incidents recorded in the same period last year. 
  • The number of offences recorded by Victoria Police in the year 31 March 2021 was 532,271. This is down 1.8% from 542,138 offences recorded in the same period last year.
  • Alleged offender incidents increased 30.6% to 208,294 in the year to 31 March 2021, up from 159,438.
  • Victim reports decreased in the year to 31 March 2021 down 18.4% (59,955) to 265,773 victim reports.
  • Family incidents increased in the year to 31 March 2021, up 8.2% from 85,915 to 92,999.
  • Alleged offender incidents with an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status increased 16.6% to 14,941 in the year to March 2021.
  • In the year to March 2021 the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status of those involved in Family incident increased for Affected family members (up 6.9% to 4,716) while Other parties increased (up 10.1% to 5,873).

 

Local Government Area level figures

Criminal Incidents

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

  • Melbourne (15,199.4 incidents per 100,000 estimated resident population, up 3.9%)
  • Latrobe (11,994.3 incidents per 100,000 estimated resident population, down 10.0%)
  • Yarra (10,719.2 incidents per 100,000 estimated resident population, down 3.3%)
  • Swan Hill (9,133.6 incidents per 100,000 estimated resident population, up 6.0%)
  • Ararat (9,104.3 incidents per 100,000 estimated resident population, up 21.8%).
     

Recorded Offences

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

  • Melbourne (20,859.7 offences per 100,000 estimated resident population, up 5.5%)
  • Latrobe (17,147.3 offences per 100,000 estimated resident population, down 6.2%)
  • Greater Shepparton (13,952.0 offences per 100,000 estimated resident population, up 7.4%)
  • Yarra (13,566.6 offences per 100,000 estimated resident population, down 0.3%)
  • Ararat (13,464.7 offences per 100,000 estimated resident population, up 28.9%).

 

Crime category trends 

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

Criminal Incidents Recorded Offences
  • Assault and related offences
  • Assault and related offences
  • Stalking, harassment & threatening behaviour
  • Stalking, harassment & threatening behaviour
  • Dangerous and negligent acts
  • Cultivate or manufacture drugs
  • Cultivate or manufacture drugs
  • Miscellaneous offences
  • Miscellaneous offences
  

 

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

 

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

Criminal Incidents Recorded Offences
  • Robbery
  • Robbery
  • Burglary/Break and enter
  • Burglary/Break and enter
  • Theft
  • Theft
  • Disorderly and offensive conduct
  • Disorderly and offensive conduct

 

All other major offence categories did not show a significant downward 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