Offences decrease in Horsham, rise elsewhere

Sexual offences rose 88.5 per cent in the Northern Grampians Shire from 51 cases to 96, and doubled in Hindmarsh, from 12 to 18 per cent. 

Northern Grampians police Inspector Ian Lindsay said any instance of sexual assault was one too many. 

“It’s not a large number but that sort of offending category we consider very serious – victims suffer for a long period of time,” he said. 

“It’s encouraging people come forward to report matters, it’s a good indication they have confidence they will be heard and supported not just by police but also the judicial system.”

Horsham Inspector Rebecca Olsen said it was pleasing to see Horsham’s crime rate fall by 2.8 percent.

“Progress is slow but I am hopeful that progress is sustainable and we are using our resources best-placed to increase impact,” she said.

“There is significant proactive work done across the Wimmera targeting recidivist offenders but also providing far greater support for our repeat victims. 

“The community can be comforted by the work that their local members are working very hard.”

Dangerous and negligent acts endangering people increased by 207 per cent, from 14 to 43 offences, a figure Inspector Olsen said reflected a crackdown on irresponsible driving.

 “Road safety is a divisional priority and naturally there will be an increase in these driving offences with a zero tolerance approach,” she said.

Deception offences increased by 134 per cent in Horsham, with cultivating and manufacturing drug offences up 33.3 per cent. 

Assaults increased by 104 per cent in Hindmarsh from 26 to 53, with stalking harassment and threatening offences up 217 per cent from six to 19 offences. 

Burglaries and break-ins increased 88.9 per cent in Hindmarsh and thefts by 137 per cent.

Inspector Olsen said a lot of proactive policing had occurred in Hindmarsh with a significant solve rate.

“There is such a lot of work that is performed by your local members that is not seen,” she said.

“The confidence to report is my key message. I we don’t know that crimes are being committed then we can’t address them so please ensure that if you know something, see something report it.”

Stalking and similar offences were up 171 per cent in West Wimmera, burglaries or break and enters were up 200 per cent and drug use was up 62.5 per cent. 

Inspector Olsen said rural sporting clubs across the Horsham police service area had been targeted by burglaries.

Northern Grampians had a 611 per cent increase in justice procedures, a 300 per cent increase in government regulatory offences and a 88.2 percent increase in burglaries or break and enters. 

Drug use and possession and cultivating or manufacturing drugs in Ararat Rural City rose 85 and 33 per cent respectively.

Arson in Yarriambiack increased 350 per cent from two to nine offences, stalking, harassment and threatening behaviour offences increased 133 per cent from two to 21, and assault increased 43.4 percent from 53 to 76.

Inspector Lindsay said increases around drug offending reflected good public information and policing, which had resulted in a number of warrants, searches and arrests.

He said a small group of recidivist offenders were behind an increase in break and enters in the Northern Grampians police service area.