Crime falls in Victoria as auditor-general finds no evidence $40m youth program works
Victoria crime falls as audit questions effectiveness of $40m youth program
With two months to go until the 28 November state election, two official reports released this week have presented different findings on crime and youth offending in Victoria.New Crime Statistics Agency data shows a 3.8 per cent fall in criminal incidents across the state in the 12 months to June 2026, while a Victorian Auditor-General’s Office review found no evidence that a $40 million youth crime prevention program has reduced offending.
According to data released by the Crime Statistics Agency on 24 September, residential aggravated burglaries fell by 27 per cent, carjackings and attempted carjackings by 25.4 per cent, robberies by 22.9 per cent and overall burglary offences by 19.9 per cent. Motor vehicle theft fell by 5 per cent, while theft from motor vehicles decreased by 10 per cent. Serious and violent crime fell by 4.1 per cent.The latest 12-month figures also show a decline in youth offending, with youth crime incidents falling by 8.1 per cent. Retail theft increased by 3 per cent, while drug trafficking offences rose by 18.5 per cent.
Audit questions youth crime program
On 23 September, the Victorian Auditor-General’s Office released its review of the Youth Crime Prevention Program, which has received more than $40 million in government funding since 2016 for mentoring and case management. The audit concluded there was no evidence that the program was reducing offending. Of 258 participants whose records could be matched with Victoria Police data, 70 per cent offended within six months of starting the program, including 66 per cent who reoffended. The report also raised questions about whether the program was reaching its intended recipients. It found that half of participants were alleged offenders, while the program is designed to support young people aged 10 to 24 who have either offended or demonstrated a risk of offending.
The proportion of participants with previous offending histories varied considerably between service providers, ranging from 18 per cent to 92 per cent. The latest figures show youth offending is now declining. However, in the previous statistical year, alleged youth offender incidents reached a record 23,893, compared with 17,115 in 2022. One program provider, Youth Support and Advocacy Service, said it had seen positive outcomes among some participants.
Andrew Bruun told the ABC that 50 per cent of the organisation’s current clients had ceased offending and completed their community corrections orders.The Department of Justice and Community Safety accepted both recommendations made by the Auditor-General, including establishing minimum standards for participant data and record-keeping.
Police numbers and regional differences
Deputy Police Commissioner Bob Hill said the latest crime figures were encouraging but that further work was required.“Our work is far from over. We remain firmly committed to reducing harm across the community,” he said.
Labor has pledged to recruit an additional 1,500 police officers if re-elected at the November state election. Victoria Police had 1,340 full-time-equivalent police vacancies as of 31 August 2026.Crime trends also varied across regional Victoria. In the Latrobe local government area, criminal incidents increased by 3.4 per cent over the latest 12-month period. Latrobe City Council Mayor Sharon Gibson said the community had been asking the government for more support.
“We have been asking, begging the government for help,” she said.
The state opposition has been contacted for comment.
