Cleeland concerned as Benalla crime rate increases

By Simon Ruppert

Feb 20, 2024

Questions asked: State Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland has raised concerns over Benalla’s increasing crime rate in parliament.

State Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland said her office is dealing with regular community concerns over crime in Benalla, with family violence incidents a big concern.

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The Victorian Government has said it is spending billions of dollars to address the issue.

Ms Cleeland said the most recent data from the Crime Statistics Agency demonstrated a clear spike in criminal behaviour locally.

In the last year, Benalla has seen:

An 8.5 per cent increase in total criminal incidents;
A 10.1 per cent increase in offences recorded;
A 6.9 per cent increase in alleged offender incidents; and
A 5.5 per cent increase in family violence incidents.

For all these categories, Benalla sits well above the state average.

It recorded 23 per cent more criminal incidents, nearly 29 per cent more offences were recorded and an alarming 63 per cent more family violence incidents compared to the previous year.

Ms Cleeland said her office had seen a rise in the number of constituent concerns relating to local crime, particularly in Benalla.

“We are seeing significant rises in crime across much of our regional areas, with youth crime, family violence, and farm crime all continuing to soar,” Ms Cleeland said.

“My office has spoken with several locals in the Benalla region who have expressed concern over criminal behaviour locally — including several farm break-ins, serious assaults and trespassing.

“I have heard from constituents in their 70s saying this is the worst it has ever been in the area.

“Sadly, there have also been some high-profile cases in the last year, including a tragic hit-and-run, a shooting and stabbings.

Ms Cleeland said she had raised many of these concerns with the state’s police and crime prevention minister and that she would continue to push to improve community safety across the electorate.

“While Benalla is home to a regional police hub, so many towns across our electorate are simply not provided with enough resources to operate effectively,” Ms Cleeland said.

“This lack of support threatens to leave rural communities without a policing presence and sends a signal that the safety and protection of our rural communities doesn’t matter.

“Many of these small country towns are too far away from a major centre for police to respond to an emergency situation within a reasonable time-frame, putting our communities at risk.”

Victorian Police Minister Anthony Carbines said community safety was the government’s number one concern.

“Which is why we have invested a record $4.5 billion in funding to Victoria Police, delivering police the resources and tools they need to keep Victorians safe,” Mr Carbines said.

“(This includes) funding for more than 3600 new police officers and upgrades to stations like the 24-hour station being built in Benalla.

“Victoria Police provides a 24-hour police response, seven days a week, to all Victorians.

“Police will be where they are needed most when they are needed most.

“Operational decisions such as the deployment of resources are a matter for Victoria Police, who put the safety of all Victorians as their top priority.”