Shifting Crime Hotspots in Victoria (2016–2025)

A CSA Open-Data Storyboard

Sahil Bedwal — S4143314

28 October 2025

Shifting Crime Hotspots (2016–2025)

This storyboard explores how crime patterns have changed across Victorian Local Government Areas (LGAs) from 2016 to 2025, based on open data from the Crime Statistics Agency (CSA).

Data Overview

  • Source: Crime Statistics Agency (Victoria)
  • Dataset: LGA Recorded Offences Year Ending June 2025
  • Unit of measure: Recorded offences per Local Government Area
  • Metrics: Offence Count and Rate per 100,000 Population
year lga police_region count rate
2025 Banyule 1 North West Metro 11203 8426.878
2025 Brimbank 1 North West Metro 18876 9476.956
2025 Darebin 1 North West Metro 19077 11790.888
2025 Hobsons Bay 1 North West Metro 7927 8182.204
2025 Hume 1 North West Metro 23194 8276.541
2025 Maribyrnong 1 North West Metro 12352 12958.475
2025 Melbourne 1 North West Metro 45765 23519.817
2025 Melton 1 North West Metro 16470 7056.168
2025 Merri-bek 1 North West Metro 16092 8523.311
2025 Moonee Valley 1 North West Metro 10558 8050.788

Statewide Crime Trend

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Top 10 LGAs by Offences (2025)

Offence Rate Heatmap by LGA and Year

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Insights & Interpretation

  • Metropolitan areas like Melbourne, Wyndham, and Brimbank remain consistent crime hotspots.
  • Regional centres such as Greater Geelong show moderate but steady increases.
  • Offence rates (per 100k) have started to stabilise since 2021, indicating post-pandemic recovery patterns.

References

  • Crime Statistics Agency (Victoria). (2025). Data Tables LGA Recorded Offences Year Ending June 2025 [Data set]. Retrieved from https://www.crimestatistics.vic.gov.au
  • Australian Bureau of Statistics (2024). Regional Population, 2023 (Cat. No. 3218.0).