Our crime rate continues to fall yet remains above the statewide average.
Figures released this week by the Crime Statistics Agency show both the number of criminal incidents and offences recorded are down on the previous reporting period.
In Greater Bendigo, 8,662 criminal incidents occurred in the year to March 2026, a drop of roughly 8.8 percent on the previous twelve-month period.
The Mount Alexander (961) and Central Goldfields Shires (971) also saw a fall in the number of incidents of three percent and 12.3 percent, respectively.
Total offences numbered 12,663 in Greater Bendigo, 1,477 in Mount Alexander Shire, and 1,354 in the Central Goldfields region, with breaches of family violence orders the most common to occur.
While criminal incidents have decreased in the region, they continue to occur at a higher rate than other parts of the state.
Across Victoria, the average number of incidents per 100 thousand people was 6,503.
Greater Bendigo recorded an incident rate of 6,770, and Central Goldfields 7,043, but Mount Alexander Shire’s was lower at 4,553.
Additionally, crime figures in all three areas are still above what they were pre-pandemic.
Despite this, the state government is again taking a glass-half-full approach to the numbers.
“There’s more work to do but crime is down, youth offending is down and more people are being jailed not bailed,” Police Minister Anthony Carbines said in a statement.
“We give police what they need to keep Victorians safe – more powers, tougher laws and stronger consequences.”
But his opposition counterpart isn’t buying that argument.
“Victorians are sick of being told everything is fine when they can see what’s happening in their own communities,” Shadow Police Minister Brad Battin said.
“The numbers don’t lie. Under [Premier] Jacinta Allan, crime is up, police shortages are getting worse and more Victorians are feeling unsafe.”
The data can be viewed in-full on the Crime Statistic Agency’s website.
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