Victoria Crime Rate Soars to Highest Level in Decade Amid Youth Offending Surge

Victoria's crime rate has surged to its highest level since 2016, with 605,640 criminal offences reported in 2024, marking a 15.7% increase from the previous year. The rise in crime is attributed to various factors, including cost-of-living pressures and an alarming spike in youth offending, particularly among a small group of repeat offenders. Deputy Commissioner Bob Hill noted that while the number of unique child offenders has decreased, repeat incidents have increased significantly, with over 24,000 youth crimes recorded. Additionally, family violence incidents have reached a record high, with police responding to an incident every five minutes. The Victorian government is pushing new bail laws aimed at addressing these issues, which police hope will reduce youth crime and aggravated burglaries. Experts emphasize that the rising crime rates are a complex issue requiring multifaceted solutions, as many thefts are linked to economic hardship.