THE Crime Statistics Agency has released its most recent round of data, indicating increased criminal activity in the Mitchell Local Government Area (LGA).
The data, which collates recorded offences in the 12 months leading up to June 2026, shows that the total number of criminal incidents in the Mitchell LGA has risen by 6.5 per cent compared to the previous year.
Overall crime in Mitchell has risen by 4.3 per cent.
The area recorded 3881 criminal incidents in the reporting period, an all-time high in the region and 236 incidents more than the last 12-month period ending in June 2025.
Wallan has surpassed Seymour as the crime capital of the shire, seeing a nearly 20 per cent increase.
However the rate of crime saw a slight downturn for the first time since 2022, falling from 6235 criminal incidents per 100,000 people to 6073.
Per capita rates still have Seymour ahead, with a Victoria Police spokesperson pointing out that a growing population in Wallan would be one of the causes of increased misdemeanours.
The Mitchell Local Area Commander Acting Inspector Shane Biderman addressed the situation across the LGA in a statement to the Review.
“Pleasingly, serious and violent crimes have decreased across Mitchell, with crimes against the person (which include robberies and assaults among others) down by more than 12 per cent,” he said.
“Local police are conducting regular operations with a particular focus on car theft, theft from cars, and burglaries, to target those causing the most harm in our community.”
House-based offences remain the most prevalent (1338 criminal incidents), but a significant jump in street/footpath incidents in the LGA from 516 to 606 shows a changing world of offending.
Importantly, the area recorded a six per cent decrease in family incidents after increasing by more than 40 per cent in the three years prior.
But the Mitchell LGA remains well above the Victoria rate of offending in this area, and although breaches in family violence orders fell 14.7 per cent across the area, Wallan saw an increase of more than 20 per cent in those types of offences.
Mitchell Shire Council (MSC) Mayor Councillor John Dougall recognised the significant impact any instance of family violence can have on individuals, families and the community.
In addition, the mayor also revealed to the Review that the MSC is currently developing the proposed Southern Mitchell Family Violence Prevention Program.
The five-year, $1.5 million pilot based in Beveridge would provide the area with a dedicated wellbeing coordinator, and is being developed in partnership with Good Shepherd, Australia’s oldest women’s charity.
“The proposed Southern Mitchell Family Violence Prevention Program is designed specifically for a rapidly growing community where population growth can outpace community infrastructure and support networks,” Cr Dougall said.
“It would strengthen connections between local services and residents, support earlier identification of risk factors and provide a locally based model of prevention.”
The statewide crime statistics show that reported criminal incidents have decreased by 2.9 per cent since the last reporting period, but remain substantially higher than the historic average.
Family violence related incidents fell by 3.4 per cent, but there was a concerning increase in serious family violence related assaults of nearly 16 per cent.
Macedon and Whittlesea show mixed results
Neighbouring LGAs to Mitchell are battling with their own crime issues according to the Crime Statistics Agency’s data.
The Macedon Ranges have seen an increase of 2.3 per cent, pushing them past 2000 recorded criminal incidents for the first time in a reported 12 month period.
Theft, criminal damage and stealing from a motor vehicle make up the top three most common offences.
Kyneton remains the LGA’s leading crime town, while Romsey reported a concerning jump of more than 50 per cent to rise to fourth in overall criminal incidents.
Alarmingly, the region’s family violence incidents rose by 13.6 per cent between June 2025 and June 2026. The increase is part of a wider trend in the area, with the Macedon Ranges reporting a 31 per cent increase in these types of incidents since 2023.
The Macedon Ranges remain well below the Victorian rate in all of the data collected.
Meanwhile, the Whittlesea LGA has bounced back after a concerning 28 per cent jump in crime in the 12 months leading up to June 2025. Total criminal incidents are down 5.5 per cent in the June 2026 reporting period.
The number of unsolved crimes in the area has continued to grow however, now representing more than half of all criminal incidents reported.
Epping leads the way with almost double the incidents of any other suburb at 3201. Other suburban areas including Mill Park and Wollert are represented in the top five for incidents too, while rural area data is significantly lower.
Whittlesea still ranks positively in proportion to the Victorian averages, thanks to significant falls in key criminal areas, including theft from a motor vehicle which saw incidents drop from 2482 to 2043 in the past two reporting periods.
