00:00Scenes like this are playing out across the state, in numbers never seen before.
00:08We have reached crime rates in this state that are completely unacceptable.
00:14The community deserves more.
00:16Last year the crime rate rose by 13%, the highest since 2016, according to new police
00:22data.
00:23Police made over 73,500 arrests, the most since records began in the early 90s.
00:30I would go as far as to say that we've had more arrests in this state in our 172 year
00:36history in the year 2024.
00:39Thefts from motor vehicles was the fastest growing and most common crime, including plate
00:44thefts and stolen power tools.
00:47Theft from shops is also rising, and stealing cars is up a staggering 41%.
00:53The crime is out of control across the whole state, and let me assure you the crime statistics
00:57coming out in three months time will be just as bad because this government failed.
01:01Youth crime is also up, crimes committed by children aged between 10 and 17 have risen
01:07to their highest levels since 1993.
01:11I think with a lot of these young people they're looking for connection, they're looking for
01:14belonging and they're finding it in the wrong places.
01:16We need to make sure we wrap around these young people, connect them with family, with
01:20community.
01:21Police say new bail laws introduced to Parliament this week that crack down on repeat offenders
01:27are critical to turning the numbs around.
01:30But they say until they're implemented in full, the list of victims of crime will continue
01:36to grow.
01:37Victoria Police is of the view that some of the crime rates could have been well and truly
01:40mitigated should this legislation come earlier.
01:43We've worked as hard as we can to bring these laws before the Parliament as soon as we can,
01:48and we won't be leaving the Parliament until they are passed.
01:51If passed, some of the reforms will come into effect immediately.
01:55Their impact will be keenly awaited.
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