Mapping Crime in Victoria
Local Government Area Hotspots and Trends Over Time
Isabella Cavaye
2025-06-11
Crime Across Victoria in 2024
- Recorded Offences by LGA (2024) gives an overview of
the recorded offences in each LGA coloured by region (Metropolitan vs
Regional).
- Metropolitan LGAs dominate the top of the chart,
reporting the highest volumes of crime.
- Regional LGAs
generally report lower offence counts.
- This comparison helps
identify where crime is most concentrated in terms of raw numbers.
LGAs Relative to Population
- Top 5 LGAs by Crime Rate (2024) shows recorded
offences per 100,000 people. A population-adjusted measure of crime.
- This is an important assessment as it shows true crime burden
relative to population size.
- It highlights the need to look
beyond raw totals and focus on rates to identify hotspots fairly.
- Regional LGAs make up most of the top 5, showing that some
smaller communities face disproportionately high crime rates when
adjusted for population — highlighting a need for targeted interventions
outside metro areas.
LGAs with Largest % Increase
- Top 5 LGAs by % Increase in Crime Rate
(2015–2024) shows the percentage increase in crime rate per 100,000
people from 2015 to 2024.
- Highlights LGAs with the fastest
crime growth and emerging hotspots.
- May indicate areas under
pressure needing urgent attention.
- All five are regional
LGAs, highlighting shifts in crime dynamics outside metropolitan
areas.
Analysis of Buloke
- Offence Types in Buloke (2015–2024) shows the count of
offence types in Buloke from 2015-2024.
- We’re investigating Buloke because it experienced the largest
percentage increase in crime from 2015 to 2024 (71%). Understanding
what’s driving this sharp rise can offer valuable insights for early
intervention in similar rural areas.
- According to the Buloke Profile 2024 released by the
National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the population is
6110, the median age is 52, 4 recorded homeless people, 2.8%
unemployment rate and the median income of a Buloke resident is $40,287.
- Buloke’s small population and higher median age of 52 suggest an older, more regional community, but economic strain may be a factor in rising crime. With a lower median income ($40,287), 2.8% unemployment and some recorded homelessness, financial and social disadvantage could be contributing to vulnerability and increased offence rates.
LGAs with Largest % Decrease
- Top 5 LGAs by % Decrease in Crime Rate
(2015–2024) shows the areas with the biggest drops in crime rate.
- The list includes both metropolitan and regional areas,
suggesting that effective strategies for reducing crime are not limited
to metropolitan or regional settings.
- These decreases may be
linked to social stability, community programs or changes in policing or
population.
- Insights from these LGAs could help shape crime
reduction efforts in other communities and offer insights into what is
working in those communities.
Analysis of Queenscliffe
- Offence Types in Queenscliffe (2015–2024) shows the count
of offence types in Queenscliffe from 2015-2024.
- We’re investigating Queenscliffe because it experienced the largest
percentage decrease in crime from 2015 to 2024 (-56.6%). Understanding
what’s driving this sharp rise can offer valuable insights for early
intervention in similar regional areas.
- According to the Buloke Profile 2025 released by the
National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the population is
3238, the median age is 64, 0 recorded homeless people, 1.1%
unemployment rate and the median income of a Queenscliffe resident is
$48,746.
- Low unemployment, no reported homelessness and a relatively high median income in Queenscliffe suggest a stable and well-supported community. These factors likely reduce economic stress and social vulnerability. These are likely two key drivers of helping to maintain low offence levels in the area.