On the Rise: Investigating Youth Crime Across Victoria
S4007769 Assessment 3
Introduction
Crime is a complex and evolving issue across Victoria, influencing public safety, policy, and community wellbeing. In recent years, growing attention has been directed toward youth crime as a significant area of concern and danger to local communities. Youth offenders have been responsible for serious crimes including aggravated burglaries and car thefts.
With growing concern among Victorians about crime within the community, these slides investigate the current state of crime in Victoria, with a focus on rising youth crime through examination of offender numbers, offence locations and the types of crime.
- Recently Victoria has seen a surge in crime, with recorded offences in Victoria in 2024 has rising to a decade high
- Post-covid has seen a strong upward trend in the total number of crimes committed
- This line graph displays Victorian alleged criminal incidents by age group for recent years
- A majority of Victorian crime is committed by 20-45 year olds, however each age group remains represented with some amount of offences being committed
- However, one age group which has seen growth and offence levels above a normal and consistent levels is 10-14 year olds and 15-17 year olds
- One major concern of many Victorians is youth crime, with all age groups under 18 being up on previous years
- Both 10-14 year old and 15-17 age groups in 2024 saw increased numbers of offences, and strayed away from the general trend line of previous years, where youth crime was consistent
- This increased gap between youth crime in previous years and 2024 is concerning for many Victorians as more youth are involved in crime
- Youth crime has not only increased, but it is also heavily prevalent in the majority of local government areas
- The LGAs with the highest alleged incidents by youth include regionally Latrobe, Mount Alexander, Wodonga, Bendigo, with Melbourne being the highest in metropolitan areas
- Interact with the visual to view your local government area
- Since a rise in crime committed by youths is present all across Victoria which crimes are youths committing?
- The main offence type which has seen a rise over the past year in Victoria by youth offenders is property and deception offences, up almost 5% in just one year
- Property and deception offences involve dishonesty and interference with property, with offences such as theft, burglary and robbery being included
- Other offences have remained at a similar level to previous years, however crimes against the person have decreased by over 3%
