Victoria avoided expected ‘snap back’ to pre-pandemic crime levels in 2021

Police say Victoria has avoided what was expected to be a “snap back” to pre-pandemic crime levels.

Victoria’s latest crime data shows criminal offences in 2021 fell to the lowest level since 2014.

Deputy Commissioner Rick Nugent says it may be in part because Melburnians were hesitant to return to their usual routines – and continued to work from home long after lockdown officially ended.

“Much of it is impacted by COVID,” he told Neil Mitchell.

“You’ve really got to sort of take into account, 2021 and 2020 as well, they were different.”

Press PLAY below to hear Deputy Commissioner Nugent explaining the crime stats

Nine News reporter Heidi Murphy, who is a deft hand at breaking down the complex crime stats, says while most measures are well down, it doesn’t necessarily indicate an ongoing trend.

“I don’t think police are going to read too much into it,” she told Neil Mitchell.

“There’s pretty good reasons for things. For example, theft and burglary, those person related crimes are well down, but for pretty good reasons … people are home.”

Press PLAY below for Heidi Murphy’s analysis of the statistics