Less than 1% of population responsible for 40% of all offending in Victoria as crime rate climbs

Less than 1% of the Victorian population is responsible for almost half of all offending in the state, police say, as the crime rate continues to climb.

The Crime Statistics Agency (CSA) on Thursday released data showing 638,640 criminal offences were recorded in Victoria in the 2024-25 financial year – an increase of 86,587 offences or 15.7%. When adjusted for population, the crime rate per 100,000 people was 8,998.9, marking a 13.8% rise year-on-year.

The number of criminal incidents also increased by 18.3% to 483,583. The CSA said this represented the highest recorded figures since reporting began in 2004-05.

The increase in the crime rate is marginally smaller than that recorded in the previous quarter but Victoria police’s deputy commissioner for regional operations, Bob Hill, sa