Family violence on the rise

By Yvette Brand

While COVID lockdowns reduced the number of opportunistic property crimes in the past 12 months, family violence offences continued to rise.

Crime statistics released last week for the Baw Baw police services area reflected a state-wide trend which saw significant increases in family violence related offences including breaches of family violence orders and sexual offences.

Another COVID related statistic was seen in justice procedure offences which saw breaches of orders jump from 645 to 909 this year, a 40 per cent increase.

The overall number of crimes reported across the Baw Baw PSA increased 1.6 per cent, up from 4797 offences to 4873.  

This was down on the 3.3 per cent overall increase recorded for the year ending in March 2021 – largely attributed to a 27.2 per cent decrease in property crimes.

But it was a different picture on the home front.  The location of the majority of Baw Baw’s crime reflected increased family incidents with the home identified as the principal place for crimes - 30 percent higher than the previous year.

Baw Baw PSA inspector Alison Crombie said pressures relating to COVID lockdowns had been a key contributor to a 29.6 per cent increase in family violence incidents in the 12-month period ending in June.

But the figures were alarmingly above the state average of 5.9 per cent increase.

Baw Baw’s increase was driven largely by a 54 per cent increase in breaches of family orders.

Insp Crombie said the figures were concerning and were a direct result of the challenging times many families had experienced.  

“COVID has had a significant impact on the statistics.  Family violence was significantly up where we have had people living in close proximity for long periods, home schooling and living with each other 24 hours a day,” she said.

Insp Crombie said the overall increase in family incidents was reflected in increased home-based assaults as well as stalking, harassment and breaches of family orders.

She said another concerning aspect of the latest statistics was a 160 per cent increase in sexual offences, which reflected the overall increase in family violence.

Sexual offences increased from 137 incidents the previous year to 356 this year.

The latest statistics indicated a 49.3 per cent increase in crimes against the person, which Insp Crombie said again reflected incidents of violence in the home.

This was further supported by a 26 per cent increase in assaults from 360 incidents to 454.

Insp Crombie said data analysis of the increased assaults showed the offences largely involved youths, people known to each other or neighbourhood disputes.

But, with people locked down, Insp Crombie said less movement of people meant property offences decreased by an overall 27.2 per cent including a 31 per cent drop in burglaries and 35 per cent decrease in thefts.

Criminal damage incidents were an exception to the property offences, with a 3.6 per cent increase in offences for the period.

Drug trafficking offences decreased 6.4 per cent for the period.

As lockdown restrictions ease, Insp Crombie said police would focus efforts on a return to the “previous normal” and criminal activity.

She said once people began interacting again, police expected there would be an increase in anti-social behaviour, particularly at licensed venues.