East Gippsland has recorded a 13 per cent increase in total criminal offences, according to the latest Crime Statistics Agency data.
The figures show rises across several offence categories, including a 25 per cent increase in residential aggravated burglaries, a 13 per cent rise in aggravated robberies and an 11 per cent increase in retail theft.
Family violence incidents in the region increased by 40 per cent over the reporting period.
Family violence continues to represent a significant proportion of police workload across East Gippsland, including in smaller and more remote communities such as Orbost and Mallacoota, where service delivery is influenced by distance and geography.
While overall offence volumes are lower in Far East Gippsland compared with larger centres such as Bairnsdale and Lakes Entrance, property offences, breaches of court and police orders, and drug-related offences remain among the most commonly recorded categories.
Gippsland East Nationals MP Tim Bull said local police were working under increasing pressure and raised concerns about broader systemic issues affecting policing capacity.
“In other areas police are doing everything they can, but we are seeing ongoing challenges in terms of resources and the legislative framework they are operating under,” Mr Bull said.
Addressing the rise in family violence, Mr Bull urged community awareness and intervention.
“Domestic violence is an area where the community has a role to play in recognising and responding to concerning behaviour,” he said.
“We all have a responsibility to ensure that within our friendship and work circles there is a clear message that this is not OK.”
Mr Bull also pointed to statewide policing and justice system pressures, including workforce vacancies and station operating arrangements, as factors impacting service delivery in regional areas.
He further noted court outcome data indicating a significant proportion of recorded offences remain unresolved, and referenced recent budget and resourcing decisions affecting Victoria Police.
Opposition Leader Jess Wilson also commented on the broader crime figures, stating that community safety concerns needed to be addressed through changes to bail and sentencing frameworks.
East Gippsland police continue to respond to a broad range of offences across the region, with local demand shaped by both population distribution and geographic factors.
