Data released this week showed crime was down 40.6 per cent in 2013-14 compared with the previous year.

Drug offences were also down, from 278 to 133 .

However the trends were reversed in the Horsham police service area, with crime rising six per cent and drug offences up more than 23 per cent.

Acting Inspector Brendan Broadbent said ice forums in the police service area had provided education and understanding for the community.

"We've been getting out into the community and asking for the community's assistance to provide us with information about drug activities ," he said.

He said the overall drop in crime in the Northern Grampians could be attributed to a focus on repeat offenders.

"Overall, with a lot of the offences, we've really focused on the recidivist offenders and how we manage these people, which has been very effective," he said.

Crime against property dropped more than 60 per cent in Northern Grampians, from 2122 offences in 2012-13 to 841 last year. Assaults were down four per cent, with 458 offences recorded in the most recent year of statistics.

Northern Grampians Inspector Ian Lindsay said the reduction in assaults might reflect interventions by police and support from the judiciary.

"We encourage the reporting of any form of violence and have increased support to victims with the introduction of the Victim Assistance and Counselling Program in Ararat, Stawell and St Arnaud," he said.

"Violence in our community will not be tolerated."

Mr Broadbent said Operation Behave had focused on anti-social behaviour and assaults.

Mr Lindsay said the reduction in property damage was positive, with the community partly to thank for the improvement.

"Property damage has seen a decline of 20.8 per cent, which is a reduction from 371 incidents down to 294," he said.

"Community vigilance and the reporting of escalating behaviour to police or venue operators can result in timely intervention."

Horsham Inspector Trevor Ashton said he was pleased with a 19 per cent drop in injuries from road accidents.

"Our road fatalities have increased from five to eight and this is still too many. We will never be satisfied with this," he said.

"We make no apologies for our enforcement in the battle to reduce road trauma and you will continue to see high police presence and visibility in support of both state and local road policing operations."

Mr Broadbent encouraged residents to continue to help police by calling Crime Stoppers on 1800333000.

For more on Horsham police service area statistics, see page 5