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