Overview
- Official data show 483,583 criminal incidents and 638,640 offences in the year to June 30, 2025, the highest since records began, with the offence rate up 13.8%.
- Theft was the main driver: thefts from motor vehicles rose 39.4% to 86,351, motor vehicle theft climbed 42.1% to about 33,000, and shoplifting continued a steep increase.
- Police say about 5,400 people charged 10 or more times accounted for roughly 40% of recorded crime, including 1,128 children arrested a combined 7,118 times.
- Family violence incidents hit a record 106,427, up 7.7% year on year, and weapons offences increased, reflecting broader strain across the justice system.
- Bail applications to the Magistrates’ Court rose 18.4% with refusals and revocations up across jurisdictions, as Victoria rolled out tougher bail rules, a machete ban from September 1, targeted policing operations and a goal to cut serious and violent crime by 5% annually.