The Crime Statistics Agency has released its data for crime in Victoria in 2024, with 10,201 criminal offences recorded in Greater Shepparton, rising by 20 per cent from 2023 (8498).
This is the highest since data began being posted online in 2014.
The amount of criminal incidents was also at its highest, at 6843, an increase of 19.7 per cent since 2023.
Top five crimes in Greater Shepparton
1. Breach of family violence order (2436)
2. Criminal damage (853)
3. Other theft (642)
4. Drug possession (563)
5. Theft from a motor vehicle (496)
Greater Shepparton had the fifth-highest offence rate in Victoria, with 14,697.2 offences per 100,000 estimated resident population, an increase of 19.6 per cent.
Crimes that saw the highest rises included sexual offences, which rose to 222 in 2024 from 154 in 2023, and arson offences, which more than doubled, from 29 in 2023 to 83 in 2024.
State Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell said the concerning spike in serious offending confirmed the feeling in the community that crime was out of control.
“The latest crime data confirms that the Allan Labor Government cannot keep Victorians safe or break the cycle of crime for a growing cohort of young offenders,” she said.
Ms Lovell said the surge in crime also came as 1000 frontline Victoria Police positions remained vacant, with many stations across the state closed due to ongoing staff shortages.
She also said the most recent state budget cut almost $20 million to crime prevention, community-based offender supervision and youth diversion programs, contributing to the higher stats.
“Greater Shepparton needs more police on the beat, but this Labor government cannot deliver what the community needs,” she said.
“Ongoing frontline police shortages and cuts to the police budget and crime prevention initiatives are real-world consequences of Labor’s financial mismanagement.”
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