Warrnambool crime statistics are down 20 per cent across the board for the year to the end of March compared with the previous 12 months.
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Warrnambool police Acting Inspector David Reither said targeting recidivist offenders, particularly those involved in drug-related crime, was having a considerable impact.
He said one of the key statistical measures was burglaries - offences that generally had an enormous impact in the community. For the year ending in March there were 208 break-ins compared to 231 for the previous year.
"Last year's figure was also down from 309 in 2017 so we are talking about 100 less offences - that's a significant impact," he said.
Warrnambool's overall crime statistics for the 12 months to the end of March were down 18.4 per cent from 4042 offences to 3298.
Southern Grampians (down 29.1 per cent) and Moyne (-14.7 per cent) also dropped, Corangamite was on a par while Glenelg jumped 45 per cent mainly due to 412 offences of theft or obtaining benefits - tap and go bank card offences.
Acting Inspector Reither said Glenelg Shire Council's area figures, which covered Portland, for the 2019 year were extremely low when a number of recidivist offenders were imprisoned.
He said the current figures were better than 2017.
In the Warrnambool council area 16 more drug traffickers were caught and processed - from 49 to 65.
"We are also very pleased that the number of assaults recorded was down 20 per cent from 403 to 323," Acting Inspector Reither said.
"Thefts were also down to 676 from 874 (about 22 per cent) and deceptions were down massively to 167 from 302 (about 44 per cent)."
Family violence offences were down 16.3 per cent from 713 to 597.
The acting inspector said the adoption of an offender-based model of enforcement was having an impact.
"On the figures I'm looking at now, it's working," he said.
"We are looking at stricter drug enforcement, particularly recidivist offenders with a focus on drug-related crime.
"It works and it holds people to account. We're also focusing on bail offences and look at managing recidivist offenders, not just the crimes being committed.
"We are talking to people when they are released from prison and the approach is having a positive impact on the figures."
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