Still the safe side

By EMMA OLIVER and PAM ZIERK-MAHONEY MANSFIELD is bucking a statewide trend as crime surges across the state, according to the latest figures released by the Crime Statistics Agency. Data shows a criminal offence is committed every 50.3 seconds in Victoria, with State Member for Eildon and Shadow Minister for Crime Prevention, Cindy McLeish confirming Mansfield Shire remains relatively untouched as crime spirals statewide. Mansfield's crime rate has actually dropped 12.4 per cent overall from April 2024 through to March 2025. “Although numbers are considerably low in Mansfield Shire, we still need to remain vigilant," Ms McLeish said. "Steal From a Motor Vehicle has increased 33 per cent from 12 to 16 incidents for instance. “However, we are lucky we live in the community we do. "It is clearly the place to be." In a breakdown of statistics Mansfield recorded 317 criminal incidents, the offences record totalled 448, alleged offender incidents numbered 195, person victim reports were 161 and family incidents sat at 123. Looking to individual townships, criminal incidents went down by 160 in Mansfield with Bonnie Doon also recording a drop of 37 and Goughs Bay a drop of 8; while Maindample recorded an increase of 10 and Jamieson an increase of 32. Charges laid overall for the Mansfield district recorded 38.9 percent; no charges laid 25.6 percent and unsolved crimes 36.3 percent. However, the shire is an outlier with Ms McLeish citing worrying statistics. "There has been a 47 per cent increase on car thefts - a whopping 90 per cent increase over 10 years - and 21 per cent increase in aggravated robbery," she said. "There is an 18 per cent increase in youth offending over the last 12 months, with a total of 25,275 offences committed by young offenders – one every 20.8 minutes. “Every day, Victorians are less safe because of the state government’s soft touch on crime and refusal to give police, who are working night and day to keep our community safe, the resources or laws they need.”

Still the safe side

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