In response to the rising youth crime, the Victorian government is debating controversial 'tough' bail laws that would treat young offenders like adults for serious crimes.

The Coalition opposition supports the proposed bail bill but is advocating for amendments, while the Greens oppose it, citing concerns about its impact on First Nations communities.

Deputy Commissioner Bob Hill emphasized the unacceptable rise in youth crime and the urgent need for bail reform to address the issue.

Family violence incidents have also surged, reaching an all-time high of 104,786 incidents in 2024, with police responding to such incidents every five minutes.

Authorities attribute the rise in thefts, including a notable increase in retail store thefts and theft from motor vehicles, to opportunistic crimes driven by financial strain.

This surge in crime has pushed the crime rate up by 13.2%, reaching its highest level in nearly a decade, largely driven by repeat child offenders and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.

While the number of unique child offenders decreased by 3%, repeat offenders increased by 4.9%, indicating that fewer youths are committing crimes, but those who do are offending more frequently.

Theft from motor vehicles has become the most common crime, with 75,731 offences reported, including a spike in number plate thefts.

Overall, the increase in crime rates has led to leadership changes within Victoria Police, following tensions over the handling of these rising crime statistics.

In 2024, Victoria experienced a significant rise in crime, with a total of 605,640 criminal offences recorded, marking a 15.7% increase from the previous year.

The youth crime rate is particularly alarming, with children aged 10 to 17 arrested a total of 24,550 times, involving 7,414 individual children, the highest rate since electronic records began in 1993.

Police Minister Anthony Carbines highlighted that around 330 young individuals are responsible for a significant portion of youth crime, underscoring the need for tougher bail laws.