NEW Victoria Police statistics show family violence in the Wimmera has dominated a spike in assault.
The data compares the number of offences in calendar years 2011 and 2012.
Assault in the Horsham police service area rose by 84.8 per cent, from 243 to 449 offences.
When family violence is excluded, assault increased by 35.5 per cent, from 169 to 229 offences.
Horsham police service area covers Horsham, West Wimmera and Hindmarsh municipalities.
The trend was similar in the Northern Grampians police service area, which incorporates Northern Grampians, Ararat and Yarriambiack municipalities.
Assault in the Northern Grampians area rose by 44.6 per cent, from 334 to 483 offences.
Excluding family violence, assault increased by 16.5 per cent, from 231 to 269 offences.
Crimes against the person, which includes offences such as assault, also jumped in the Wimmera.
There was an increase in the Horsham area, from 313 to 555 offences.
The Northern Grampians area also had a rise, from 387 to 595 offences.
Horsham Inspector Trevor Ashton acknowledged that family violence dominated the spike in crimes against the person.
He said police had gained an 'unfortunate picture' of what was represented by way of family violence in the region.
"It's a huge issue throughout the Wimmera," Inspt Ashton said.
"It's also a state-wide issue.
"Non-family violence assault is also an area of concern.
"Both the Horsham and Northern Grampians police service areas have put systems and people in place to address these issues.
"We are revamping a team of specialists or members who can identify family violence assault and work with major stakeholders such as the Department of Human Services and the courts.
"They ensure that from the date of the incident, all correct procedures and policies are pursued.
"So affected or aggrieved family members are aligned to specialist support.
"We also aim to combat and reduce repeat family violence offenders."
Thefts from motor vehicles also increased in the Horsham area from 69 to 112 offences.
The same offence in the Northern Grampians area decreased from 132 to 125 offences.
Inspt Ashton said people continued to believe that their cars would not be broken into.
"We are not immune from offences being committed against us," he said.
"We have been putting out this message for a long time."
Detective Senior Sergeant Terry Hay, Wimmera crime adviser, said car owners needed to heed the 'look, lock, leave' message.
"Opportunistic thieves take advantage of unlocked cars with valuables inside," he said.
"These people are in every community."
There were decreases in property damage across the Wimmera, the Horsham area recording 275 offences down from 317, and the Northern Grampians area, 352 offences down from 403.
There were also fewer non-residential burglaries throughout the region, the Horsham area recording 59 offences down from 91, and the Northern Grampians area, 57 offences down from 88.
