Criticism from opposition leader Brad Battin highlights ongoing political debate over the effectiveness of current crime control measures amid rising crime rates.

Victoria has seen a dramatic 50 percent increase in vehicle thefts and a 65 percent rise in theft attempts over the past year, with 28,482 vehicles stolen by June 2025, up from 20,477 the previous year.

The overall recorded offences in Victoria increased by 15.7 percent, driven largely by the surge in vehicle thefts and attempted thefts, alongside a 20 percent rise in aggravated home burglaries, which are often linked to vehicle crimes.

Children aged 10 to 17 are responsible for over a quarter of car thefts, with 1,128 youths arrested 7,118 times in the past year, averaging an arrest every eight weeks per youth.

Thefts of items like number plates, which account for 40 percent of offences, are common, with stolen plates used to evade police or steal petrol; over 800 electronic key reprogramming devices have been seized.

Police highlight that repeat juvenile offenders are a significant issue, with many youths arrested multiple times, prompting community efforts to prevent crime through simple measures like locking doors and using anti-theft devices.

Family violence incidents reached a record high of 106,427, marking a 7.7 percent increase, amid broader social issues such as economic pressures, mental health challenges, and organized crime.

New bail laws introduced in March, which treat juvenile and adult offenders more strictly to enhance community safety, have resulted in a 26 percent increase in bail revocations for young people and a 46 percent rise for adults.

Deputy Commissioner Bob Hill emphasized that the level of offending is unacceptable and called for increased community vigilance, while acknowledging police efforts to combat rising vehicle-related crimes.

While the number of young offenders decreased slightly by 147, the total number of repeat juvenile offenders remains high, with 1,128 children arrested multiple times.

Victoria police aim to reduce serious and violent crime by 5 percent annually, with new crime prevention strategies to be announced in October, inspired by successful approaches in New Zealand.

The most common and fastest-growing crimes include thefts from cars and retail stores, with thefts from vehicles increasing by nearly 40 percent, driven by stolen number plates and motor vehicles.