Elsie Lange
The overall crime rate in the Macedon Ranges has declined nearly 22 per cent on last year – now at a five year low.
Crime Statistics Agency data, released last week, shows the rate of recorded offences decreased 10.6 per cent across the state in the last 12 months, to 7121.5 per 100,000 Victorians.
Macedon Ranges Local Area Commander Acting Inspector Amanda Cohen said there had been a range of factors fuelling the decrease, including a “lag from the pandemic itself”.
“We’re going to see increases coming along over the next couple of months, but these decreases have got to be somewhat affected by lockdowns,” Acting Inspector Cohen said.
“The introduction of the Neighbourhood Policing Framework… with a focus on community policing has allowed community engagement and education which will have effects in regards to crime.
“It’s certainly a good direction to be heading in and good work done by the officers and I think it comes across because of the relationship that’s been rebuilt with the community after the lockdown period.
“But I have no doubt we will see an increase over the coming months.”
One town bucking the trend in the Macedon Ranges is the small village of Macedon, which experienced a 24 per cent increase in offences recorded, from 114 in 2021 to 142 in 2022.
“That’s a good news story for me,” Acting Inspector Cohen said.
“We’ve recently appointed a new member to Macedon, who is extremely engaged in the community and aware of the community’s needs and issues.
“That’s led to an increase of recorded offences, so it’s that members ability to be active and engaged with the community, which has allowed for that recording to occur.”
Hume also had a 16.7 per cent decrease in offences recorded, including a 26 per cent decrease in Sunbury.
