Latest news with #VictoriaPolice
CTV News
10 hours ago
- Business
- CTV News
Victoria council to receive report tackling declining social order in B.C.'s capital
A view of the Victoria Police headquarters in Victoria, B.C., on Friday, December 20, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito VICTORIA — A plan with 95 recommendations to address what it calls a 'declining social order' in Victoria will appear before councillors today for endorsement and additional financial analysis. Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto says she hopes council endorses the comprehensive plan, because it gives the city permission to act. She says the plan represents a 'watershed moment' in the history of Victoria, adding it's time for council to consider the 'harsh reality' that the city faces with homelessness, addiction and a mental-health crisis. Alto acknowledges that the final price tag of the plan is not yet known, but says endorsement of the plan will allow staff to put some numbers together. The mayor says many of the recommendations in the report fall outside of municipal jurisdiction, but the city is 'tired of waiting' for senior levels of government to do their part. Specific recommendations within Victoria's control include measures to improve downtown safety, explore the establishment of designated shelters and tiny homes for people transitioning from homelessness, and support the delivery of mental health first aid training. Alto says the city will fill some of the gaps for now, with the hope that other levels of government will see what works and do their part to help the city. The report was commissioned in 2023 and responds to what it calls 'increased disorder' and a 'diminished sense' of community well-being in the face of multiple challenges. The report says people in B.C's capital are 'discouraged, upset, and frustrated' with visible and invisible levels of poverty, homelessness and service gaps, despite efforts to revitalize the downtown, increase housing and improve safety. The report says that concerns about safety and the impacts of social disorder are 'negatively impacting business vitality' in Victoria, whose success as a renowned tourism destination depends on the local economy with its array of unique businesses. Article by Wolfgang Depner.
Sky News AU
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Victoria Police making record arrests but almost half of all crimes are going unsolved, latest crime statistics reveal
Victoria's record crime rates have led to an explosion in unsolved crimes, new statistics have revealed. Crime statistics released on Thursday show that of the 627,268 criminal offences committed in Victoria in the year ending March 2025, more than 46 per cent remain unsolved. That means there are 290,871 offences where the perpetrator has not been brought to justice. While this number will undoubtedly go down as Victoria Police continues its work, it is currently 42 per cent higher than it was 12 months ago. The increase in unsolved crimes comes despite Victoria Police revealing it had carried out almost 76,000 arrests in the past year, which they believe could be an all time record. 'Police recorded the most arrests since electronic records began in 1993, and most likely, in Victoria Police's 172-year history,' Victoria Police said in a statement. In the ten years since Labor came to power, the number of unsolved crimes has soared by 66.7 per cent – leaving more victims without justice, and more offenders without consequences. According to the Victorian Opposition Leader Brad Battin, a former police officer, the surge in unsolved crimes shows the Allan government has lost control of law and order. 'This is what happens when a government loses control of crime – offenders know they won't be caught, and victims know they won't see justice,' Mr Battin said. 'Victoria Police are working night and day to keep our community safe – but they're being let down by a soft-on-crime government that refuses to give them the resources or laws they need.' Earlier on Thursday, Victorian Police Minister Anthony Carbines said while the crime rates were 'unacceptable' the unique offender rate was stable, meaning the same number of people were committing additional offences. Mr Carbines also pointed out that the statistics did not capture the impact of the Allan government's changes to bail laws – which took effect on March 28. 'The government has acted, (and there has been) more offenders remanded than ever before since these changes took effect. 'We've seen a 100 per cent increase in young offenders remanded. We've seen a 31 per cent increase in adult offenders remanded. 'We will start to see those people unable to commit further offending. So I think we'll start to see that change picked up in future quarters.' The Police Minister also flagged the introduction of a new round of bail reforms, as well as other tough-on-crime measures such as so-called post and boast laws, which impose tougher penalties for offenders who 'promote their misdeeds and their crimes' on social media. "We also have the second tranche of our bail reforms coming after the parliamentary winter ... which will be about high harm crimes, aggravated burglary, carjackings, home invasions," Mr Carbines said. "Where people commit those offences and repeat those offences, it'll be extremely difficult to get bail, extremely difficult. "We will also be bringing tougher measures, as you have seen, the crime statistics around retail crime, we cannot accept the growth in retail crime, that it's okay to continually, repeatedly steal from businesses."
The Advertiser
14 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Suspect charged after driving through busy shopping centre to evade police
A man has been charged after allegedly driving a stolen Toyota Land Cruiser through a popular shopping centre to evade police. The 27-year-old man was arrested at 8.30am on June 19 after investigators tracked him to a home on Hoddle Street in Melbourne's inner east. At 4pm on June 18, security at Northland shopping centre, in Preston, Melbourne, alerted police to an allegedly stolen four-wheel-drive in the car park. Police were at the car park within five minutes and attempted to block the car in, but the 27-year-old driver allegedly evaded officers by smashing through the middle of the shopping centre. "It is understood the driver had been shopping inside the centre before returning to the vehicle," police said. No one was physically injured or struck by the Land Cruiser, but one woman was treated for shock at the scene. Officers did not fire their weapons at any stage of the pursuit, Victoria Police said. The Land Cruiser was recovered from Beavers Road in Northcote after it was allegedly dumped by the driver. Police believe the car was stolen from a home on King Street in Ivanhoe East on June 2. "It is believed an electronic key reprogramming tool was used to steal the Land Cruiser without the vehicle's keys," police said. An electronic key reprogramming tool was seized from the Hoddle Street home during the arrest, police said. The man was charged with two counts of aggravated and intentional exposure of a police officer to risk by driving, reckless conduct endangering life, theft of a motor vehicle, handling stolen goods, driving whilst disqualified and criminal damage. Anyone with footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. A man has been charged after allegedly driving a stolen Toyota Land Cruiser through a popular shopping centre to evade police. The 27-year-old man was arrested at 8.30am on June 19 after investigators tracked him to a home on Hoddle Street in Melbourne's inner east. At 4pm on June 18, security at Northland shopping centre, in Preston, Melbourne, alerted police to an allegedly stolen four-wheel-drive in the car park. Police were at the car park within five minutes and attempted to block the car in, but the 27-year-old driver allegedly evaded officers by smashing through the middle of the shopping centre. "It is understood the driver had been shopping inside the centre before returning to the vehicle," police said. No one was physically injured or struck by the Land Cruiser, but one woman was treated for shock at the scene. Officers did not fire their weapons at any stage of the pursuit, Victoria Police said. The Land Cruiser was recovered from Beavers Road in Northcote after it was allegedly dumped by the driver. Police believe the car was stolen from a home on King Street in Ivanhoe East on June 2. "It is believed an electronic key reprogramming tool was used to steal the Land Cruiser without the vehicle's keys," police said. An electronic key reprogramming tool was seized from the Hoddle Street home during the arrest, police said. The man was charged with two counts of aggravated and intentional exposure of a police officer to risk by driving, reckless conduct endangering life, theft of a motor vehicle, handling stolen goods, driving whilst disqualified and criminal damage. Anyone with footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. A man has been charged after allegedly driving a stolen Toyota Land Cruiser through a popular shopping centre to evade police. The 27-year-old man was arrested at 8.30am on June 19 after investigators tracked him to a home on Hoddle Street in Melbourne's inner east. At 4pm on June 18, security at Northland shopping centre, in Preston, Melbourne, alerted police to an allegedly stolen four-wheel-drive in the car park. Police were at the car park within five minutes and attempted to block the car in, but the 27-year-old driver allegedly evaded officers by smashing through the middle of the shopping centre. "It is understood the driver had been shopping inside the centre before returning to the vehicle," police said. No one was physically injured or struck by the Land Cruiser, but one woman was treated for shock at the scene. Officers did not fire their weapons at any stage of the pursuit, Victoria Police said. The Land Cruiser was recovered from Beavers Road in Northcote after it was allegedly dumped by the driver. Police believe the car was stolen from a home on King Street in Ivanhoe East on June 2. "It is believed an electronic key reprogramming tool was used to steal the Land Cruiser without the vehicle's keys," police said. An electronic key reprogramming tool was seized from the Hoddle Street home during the arrest, police said. The man was charged with two counts of aggravated and intentional exposure of a police officer to risk by driving, reckless conduct endangering life, theft of a motor vehicle, handling stolen goods, driving whilst disqualified and criminal damage. Anyone with footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. A man has been charged after allegedly driving a stolen Toyota Land Cruiser through a popular shopping centre to evade police. The 27-year-old man was arrested at 8.30am on June 19 after investigators tracked him to a home on Hoddle Street in Melbourne's inner east. At 4pm on June 18, security at Northland shopping centre, in Preston, Melbourne, alerted police to an allegedly stolen four-wheel-drive in the car park. Police were at the car park within five minutes and attempted to block the car in, but the 27-year-old driver allegedly evaded officers by smashing through the middle of the shopping centre. "It is understood the driver had been shopping inside the centre before returning to the vehicle," police said. No one was physically injured or struck by the Land Cruiser, but one woman was treated for shock at the scene. Officers did not fire their weapons at any stage of the pursuit, Victoria Police said. The Land Cruiser was recovered from Beavers Road in Northcote after it was allegedly dumped by the driver. Police believe the car was stolen from a home on King Street in Ivanhoe East on June 2. "It is believed an electronic key reprogramming tool was used to steal the Land Cruiser without the vehicle's keys," police said. An electronic key reprogramming tool was seized from the Hoddle Street home during the arrest, police said. The man was charged with two counts of aggravated and intentional exposure of a police officer to risk by driving, reckless conduct endangering life, theft of a motor vehicle, handling stolen goods, driving whilst disqualified and criminal damage. Anyone with footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Yahoo
Crime hits record high as youth violence soars
Criminal incidents have soared to a record high in one state, with youth over-represented in violent attacks and cost-of-living linked crimes the fastest growing type of offence. Offences in Victoria soared by 15.2 per cent in the 12 months to the end of March, when adjusted for population. The were 627,268 offences recorded, while criminal incidents jumped to 474,927, up 18.1 per cent, the highest number since the Crime Statistics Agency started recording data two decades ago. There was also a record number of family violence incidents, which were up 10.7 per cent to 106,247. Child crime was at its highest level since 1993, when electronic records started, with 3,300 of what Victoria Police described as the "worst youth offenders" arrested. Those aged from 10-17 represented just 13.1 per cent of all offenders, but police said they were over-represented in violent and serious crimes, including robberies and aggravated burglaries. Property crimes were the fastest growing type of offence, which the force attributed to "difficult economic times". They include motor vehicle theft (up 47.1 per cent), theft from a motor vehicle (up 39.3 per cent), retail theft (up 38.6 per cent) and other theft (up 20.5 per cent). Arrests jumped 23 per cent in the last decade, while some 25,917 people were arrested a combined 75,968 times in the last 12 months. The data released on Thursday was recorded before the Victorian government introduced harsher bail laws. Police Minister Anthony Carbines said justice department data showed the number of youths being held on remand had doubled since that legislation came into effect in late March. Adults being held on remand have also jumped by 31 per cent. Mr Carbines said soaring crime figures were being driven by repeat offenders, but the results were unacceptable. "We'll start to see those tougher bail laws have an effect on some of our crime statistics and crime indicators in future quarters," he said. Another round of bail reforms are expected to hit the floor of parliament in late July after the winter break. Victoria Police acting Deputy Commissioner David Clayton said there was no doubt crime was higher than what the community and police would like it to be. "We know the community has strong concerns around young offenders breaking into homes to steal cars, which are then driven at high speeds on our roads," he said. "This offending has led to catastrophic consequences in the past year, with stolen cars involved in more than 760 crashes and six people losing their lives. He said knife crime was another area of focus, with some 44 blades removed from the streets each day. The release of the figures came a day after shoppers were forced to take cover at Melbourne's Northland Shopping Centre as a Toyota Landcruiser four-wheel drive was seen being driven through the centre of the complex. No one was physically injured in the incident, which Victoria Police alleged occurred as the driver tried to evade officers in the stolen vehicle. A 27-year-old East Melbourne man was arrested early on Thursday.
Sky News AU
16 hours ago
- Sky News AU
Victoria's crime rate surges 15 per cent in past year, as youth offending hits highest rate since electronic records began
Crime in Victoria is now at record highs with youth offending increasing by the largest rate since electronic records began. The latest crime statistics, released on Thursday, show there were 627,268 criminal offences committed in Victoria in the year ending March 2025, an increase of 17.1 per cent. When population growth is taken into account, this amounts to a 15.2 per cent increase in crime in one year, with 8,838.7 offences being committed for every 100,000 people. The increase comes despite Victoria Police performing an average of 208 arrests per day – 23 per cent more than a decade ago. "There is no doubt overall crime is higher than both the community and police would like," Acting Deputy Commissioner of Regional Operations David Clayton said. 'That's why every police officer is working tirelessly to reduce crime and hold criminals accountable – as they did in these twelve months with a record 75,968 arrests.' Police said the number of arrests was now the highest since electronic records began in 1993, and most likely, in Victoria Police's 172-year history. This staggering increase in crime is being driven in part by record-high youth offending, which has increased by almost 18 per cent in the past year and 42 per cent since March 2015. According to Victoria Police, offences committed by individuals aged between 10 and 17 are now at their highest levels since electronic records began. "Children only account for 13.1 per cent of all offenders processed, however they are overrepresented in serious and violent crimes such as robberies (63.1 per cent), aggravated burglaries (46 per cent), and car theft (26.9 per cent)," police said in a statement. "Victoria Police has made 3,300 arrests of Victoria's worst youth offenders over the past year as part of Operation Trinity (home burglaries and car thefts) and Operation Alliance (youth gangs)." While acknowledging the crime rates were 'unacceptable', Victorian Police Minister Anthony Carbines was quick to point out that the latest statistics did not capture the impact of the Allan government's changes to bail laws – which took effect on March 28. 'Our unique offender rate remains stable. What that's telling us is that it's many of the same people committing additional offences that are driving our crime rate. That is why the government has introduced the toughest bail laws in the country,' Mr Carbines said. 'The government has acted, (and there has been) more offenders remanded than ever before since these changes took effect. 'We've seen a 100 per cent increase in young offenders remanded. We've seen a 31 per cent increase in adult offenders remanded. 'We will start to see those people unable to commit further offending. So I think we'll start to see that change picked up in future quarters.' The Police Minister said the government would also be introducing additional bail laws after parliament's winter break, as well as so-called post and boast laws. "We also have the second tranche of our bail reforms coming after the parliamentary winter ... which will be about high harm crimes, aggravated burglary, carjackings, home invasions," he said. "Where people commit those offences and repeat those offences, it'll be extremely difficult to get bail, extremely difficult. "We will also be bringing tougher measures, as you have seen, the crime statistics around retail crime, we cannot accept the growth in retail crime, that it's okay to continually, repeatedly steal from businesses." The fastest growing crimes included: Theft from motor vehicle - 82,414 offences, an increase of 39.3 per cent since last year. Theft from a retail store - 41,270 offences, an increase of 38.6 per cent since last year. Motor vehicle theft - 31,551 offences, an increase of 47.1 per cent since last year. Aggravated residential burglary - 7,878 offences, an increase of 30.5 per cent since last year. Total Serious Assaults - 17,732 offences, an increase of 14 per cent since last year. Theft (other) offences - 58,137 offences, an increase of 20.5 per cent since last year. Family violence order breaches - 63,809 offences, an increase of 18.3 since last year. Opposition leader Brad Battin said the statistics showed Labor had failed Victorians. 'This is evidence that what Labor is doing is not working – community safety is clearly not their priority and Victorians are suffering,' Mr Battin said. 'We're now in a position where people do not feel safe in the one place they should – their home. 'Labor has lost control of crime in this state; only a Liberals and Nationals government will ensure that if you break bail, you will face jail and that offenders face consequences for their actions.'
