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Moira Shire crime on the rise, data reveals

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Data released by the Criminal Statistics Agency shows Moira Shire has seen an increase in instances of criminal activity in the past 12 months. Photo by Owen Sinclair

Data released by the Criminal Statistics Agency shows Moira Shire has seen an increase in instances of criminal activity in the past 12 months.

The data shows that breaches of family violence orders, followed by criminal damage, were the two most common types of offences for the shire.

Notably, the rate of recorded criminal incidents in Moira Shire rose 13.1 per cent from last year.

However, the recorded criminal incident rate is yet to return to 2019 and 2020 levels, the data highlights.

The rate of criminal incidents across Moira Shire has risen since last year, but still remains slightly below the statewide average. Source: Crime Statistics Agency Photo by Owen Sinclair

Both the Moira Shire and statewide rate for family violence offences rose by 3.8 per cent from the previous year.

However, Moira Shire remains higher than of the rest of the state in its rate of family violence incidents at 2086.3 per 100,000 population, compared to Victoria’s 1418.1 per 100,000.

Women aged 25-34 were most impacted by family violence, according to the data.

The rate of family violence-related offences across Moira Shire has exceeded the statewide average for a fifth consecutive year. Source: Crime Statistics Agency Photo by Owen Sinclair

Of all the communities across Moira Shire, the town with the highest number of reported criminal incidents was Cobram, up from 539 incidents in the previous year to 611 over the latest reporting period.

Cobram again led the rest of the shire with the highest number of recorded criminal offences, at 897 this year compared to Yarrawonga’s 627.

Across Victoria, CSA Chief Statistician Fiona Dowsley said there has been a 14 per cent increase in property and deception offences recorded in the past 12 months, driven by theft, burglary/break-and-enters and property damage.

“Family incidents and assaults have reached the highest levels in a decade, with a notable rise in aggravated assaults on females and breaches of intervention orders, often accompanied by criminal damage,” Ms Dowsley said.