The rate of recorded offences committed per 100,000 residents within the boundaries of Horsham Rural City Council, including all violent, property and drug crime, fell by almost 6.4 per cent.

The latest figures were released by Victoria’s Crime Statistics Agency and are based on offences recorded by Victoria Police. 

Horsham’s rate of offences per 100,000 residents now stands at 8853, compared with a nine-year peak of 10,274 in the 12 months to March 2016.

Horsham Rural City did see a 10.5 per cent increase in crimes against the person, led by increases in family violence assaults, family violence serious assaults, common assaults, sex offences, common assault and assaults against police officers.

Property crime was down more than 17 per cent, helped by decreases in property damage, burglary and thefts from motor vehicles.

However, there was a decrease in serious assaults unrelated to family violence.

Drug offences were also down, with decreases in drug use and possession offences and a stable number of drug cultivation and manufacturing offences, but there was an increase in drug trafficking offences.

The rate of offences committed per 100,000 residents within the boundaries of Ararat Rural City Council, including all violent, property and drug crime, fell by almost 1.6 per cent per cent.

The rate of offences committed per 100,000 residents within the boundaries of Northern Grampians Shire Council, including all violent, property and drug crime, fell by 13.5 per cent.

Victoria Police inspector for the Northern Grampians area, Paul Bertoncello, was not available for comment prior to publication deadline.

Police Minister Lisa Neville praised Victoria Police for a step in the right direction but said there was still a lot of work to be done.

According to crime statistics requested by Victorian shadow health minister Mary Wooldridge, there were 12 crimes committed within hospitals located in Horsham Rural City, including one theft and two assaults.

There were two thefts committed within hospitals in Ararat Rural City and three assaults and one theft committed within hospitals in Northern Grampians.

Ms Wooldridge said Victoria’s premier Daniel Andrews had lost control of law and order

“Hospitals should be safe places for the sick, their family and health care professionals, not one where patients and workers fear violence,” she said.