Recent social media posts about late night burglaries and slow response times from police have heightened anxiety about community safety and the lack of a police presence at night in Daylesford.

An open letter to local state member, Mary-Anne Thomas, published last week in The Wombat Post called for around the clock police presence in the town.

The response from Mary-Anne Thomas was that the town and the Shire were relatively safe compared to other areas in the State and that, in any case, this was an operational matter to be determined by Victoria Police.

Local concerns have prompted an analysis by The Wombat Post of the crime statistics for our area and a comparison to nearby communities. This analysis is based on data available from the Victorian Crime Statistics Agency.

There is not a 24-hour police presence anywhere in Hepburn Shire. Most neighbouring local government areas have 24-hour policing. Ballarat Police Station is open 24 hours a day. Maryborough (Central Goldfields), Castlemaine (Mount Alexander), Kyneton (Macedon Ranges) and Bacchus Marsh (Moorabool) all provide 24-hour police patrols. Pyrenees is the only other adjoining shire which does not have a 24-hour police presence.

Despite the fact that there is not 24-hour police presence in Hepburn Shire, the overall 2023 crime rate was well below the state average and lower than all of the adjoining local government areas except Macedon Ranges. The  feature image illustrates crime rates in local government areas across Victoria and demonstrates the relatively low crime rates in Hepburn Shire.

Total criminal incidents were 10.7 per cent higher in Hepburn Shire in 2023 (530 incidents) compared to 2022 (480 incidents). However, the Criminal Incident Rate is only about half of the Victorian average. Although there has been an increase in the Criminal Incident Rate in recent years, the rate is still lower than the pre-COVID rate (2019 data).

Criminal Incident Rate over the past 10 years for Hepburn Shire (blue bars) and for Victorial (orange line).

 

in 2023, the highest number of criminal incidents was in Creswick with 166 incidents, a 31 per cent increase on 2022 data. In Daylesford, there were 127 incidents, a 9 per cent increase over 2022. Incidents in Clunes, Trentham and Hepburn Springs all decreased in 2023.

Most crimes occurred around residential premises (house, lane, carport, front yard) and the most frequent crimes involved theft, criminal damage and non-aggravated burglaries.

Breakdown of crime locations, suburbs and offence types for Hepburn Shire in 2023. Red bars represent an increase over 2022 data; green bars represent a decrease.

 

The topic of family and gender violence has been at the forefront of community discussion and action in recent weeks. The incidence of family violence in Hepburn Shire is lower than the state average but, as Cr Lesley Hewitt points out in her Councillor Column this week, any incidence of family or gender violence is unacceptable. There was a 5 per cent decrease in reported family violence last year from 181 incidents in 2022 to 172 incidents in 2023. Family and gender violence is known to be underreported, particularly in small communities.

Studies of the impact of increased policing have generally shown that a police presence has a deterrent effect on “visible” crime in the area patrolled. It has a lesser effect on “hidden” crime such as gender and family violence. Increased police patrols also tend to have a dispersal effect in that criminals move to areas away from police patrols.

The causes of crime are multifactorial and police have no operational control over underlying factors such as socioeconomic conditions. It seems probable that social safety nets implemented during the pandemic, such as JobKeeper and JobSeeker, were were least partially responsible for reduced crime rates during the pandemic.

Given the relatively low criminal incident rate in Hepburn Shire, calls for increased policing are unlikely to succeed. And there would be a stronger case for increased police patrols in Creswick than in Daylesford.

The data also shows that most local crime occurs around the home and involves burglary and theft. There are many things that residents can do to reduce risks of crime.

  • Reduce the possibility for opportunistic crime. Lock house doors and windows especially at night. Lock garages and gates. Leave vehicles locked and windows wound up. Secure garden tools.
  • Improve lighting around your home. Install sensor lights. Install timers on internal and external lights even when you are at home.
  • Don’t advertise your absence. Keep yards neat and tidy. Unmown lawns are signal that the occupants might be away. Engage neighbours or garden professionals to maintain your yard and empty your mailbox when you are away. Don’t post holiday photos on social media telling the world that you are somewhere else and won’t be back for days or weeks or months.
  • There is strength in numbers. Get to know your neighbours. Keep an eye on each others homes. Start a Neighbourhood Watch group or join one that is already in place.
  • Install a home security system. Visible CCTV cameras are a strong deterrent. Make sure your security system is regularly maintained.

 

If you or anyone you know needs support, you can contact the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence and Family Violence Counselling Service on 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732), Lifeline (131 114) or Beyond Blue (1300 224 636).