Overview
Story Context
Headline: Recorded offences dropped during COVID-19 (2020–2021) and rebounded afterwards, with levels in 2024–2025 returning toward or exceeding pre‑COVID trends.
Why it matters: Crime patterns reflect mobility, economic activity, and policing. Understanding the dip and rebound helps councils and services plan resources fairly across LGAs.
What to look for: The shaded band marks the COVID period. Notice the decline in 2020–2021 followed by a rebound from 2022.
Statewide Trend
Story Details
Data & Methods (brief)
- Source: Crime Statistics Agency (Victoria), LGA
Recorded Offences, Year ending March 2025 (Table 01).
- Scope: Year ending March, 2013–2025; aggregated to
Victoria above; LGA detail on next tab.
- Transformations: Created
period(Pre ≤2019, During 2020–2021, Post ≥2022).
- Caveats: “Recorded offences” depend on reporting and policing; not all incidents are reported.
Notes
- Axes start at 0, and the COVID window is annotated for
context.
- Colours: blue for focus, grey for context
(perception‑friendly).
- The following tabs compare selected LGAs and show overall percent changes.
LGA Trends
Visual
What this shows
- Melbourne and Wyndham show the
sharpest dip in 2020–2021 and a quicker
rebound from 2022—consistent with big swings in CBD/outer‑metro
mobility.
- Geelong and Ballarat are
steadier, with smaller dips and smoother
recovery.
- Takeaway: the rebound is uneven across LGAs—metro areas bounced back more strongly.
Insights & Reflection
Percentage Change (2019 → 2025)
Interpretation
Post‑COVID rebounds are strongest in growth‑corridor
LGAs (e.g., Wyndham, Casey),
suggesting mobility and population return patterns influenced offence
volumes.
Regional LGAs exhibit smaller net changes.
Ethics, Limitations & References
Ethical & Design Reflection
- Colour & perception: Blue for focus, grey for
context; avoids misleading contrast.
- Transparency: COVID‑19 period visually
highlighted.
- Integrity: Axes start at 0; labels and units shown
clearly.
- Limitation: Recorded offences reflect reports, not all incidents—values depend on reporting behaviour.
References
Crime Statistics Agency Victoria. (2025). Data tables – LGA
recorded offences, year ending March 2025 [Data set].
https://www.crimestatistics.vic.gov.au/crime-statistics/download-crime-data/download-data-21
RMIT University. (2025). Data Visualisation and Communication Assignment 3 Brief.