WANGARATTA has exceeded the state crime rate for the first time since 2018, after recording a two per cent increase in total criminal incidents last calendar year.
Recording 1681 total criminal incidents in 2021, the rural city reported a 5756.6 criminal incident rate per 100,000 population, well above the state's 5232.4 rate.
Instances of criminal damage (100) and breach family violence orders (80) were up, as was theft (119).
The rural city's family violence reports saw a 1.1 per cent increase, with its incidence rate of 2164.3 far exceeding the statewide rate of 1364.7 per 100,000 population.
It followed a 20 per cent spike in family violence reporting during 2020.
Assault offences also increased by 20, with the 247 recorded being the region's highest on record.
Criminal incidents continued to be most commonly reported in the house, while criminal damage reports rose by 84 on previous numbers.
Criminal incidents on the street or footpath fell by 29, however, reports of incidents in apartments and service stations rose by 17 and 22 instances respectively.
Charges of property damage rose by 77, while drug use and possession charges fell to a five–year low, despite a marked increase in drug dealing and trafficking charges, with 21 charges laid last year.
Public nuisance offences rose to a decade high, as did instances of breaching court orders, which continued a steady climb which began in 2017, with 313 offences recorded.
Affected family members were mostly female between the age of 25 and 54, however, the region also recorded a 13 person increase in affected family members within the 0–17 age group, as compared to a decrease of 23 among the...