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Victoria Youth Crime Surges as Knife Seizures Reach Record Pace and Remand Rates Double

Tougher bail laws introduced in April have doubled youth remand numbers despite persistent police shortages.

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Crime is up again in Ballarat with the latest data from the Crime Statistics Agency revealing an increase in criminal incidents and recorded offences. File picture

Overview

  • Youth offending by 10–17 year olds rose 18% in the year to March, with under-18s charged in over 25,000 offences
  • Victoria Police made a record 75,968 arrests in that period, averaging 208 per day
  • Officers have seized more than 7,500 edged weapons so far this year, about 44 each day and on track to surpass 2024’s total
  • Property crimes, especially thefts from cars and stores, are the fastest-growing offences as economic pressures bite
  • Since April 22 tougher bail laws doubled youth remand numbers and the government has proposed tougher sentences for offenders posting crimes online despite warnings of police shortages