VIC: Official police figures to show crime increase, opposition

AAP General News (Australia)
08-13-1999
VIC: Official police figures to show crime increase, opposition

Victoria's opposition says official police statistics due to be released today will show
that crime has risen for the fourth year in a row.

The crime figures leaked early this week for the 12 months to the end of May showed a 3.7
per cent rise -- with increases in violent crime such as rape, robbery, assaults and home
invasions.

Opposition police spokesman ANDRE HAERMEYER says today's release of annual police figures
will confirm this disturbing trend and make a mockery of government attempts to talk down
crime.

He says the overall crime rate to the end of May has gone up each year since 1993-94, with
an overall rise of 11.3 per cent since then.

Rapes have risen by 14.7 per cent, robberies are up 82 per cent, assaults up 26.4 per cent
and home invasions up by more than 250 per cent.





Victoria Police chief commissioner NEIL COMRIE is expected to release the official figures
today.

AAP RTV gfr/kbw/rt

KEYWORD: POLICE (MELBOURNE)

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