My Comprehensive Community Crime Reduction and Prevention Action Plan to Reduce Crime and Youth Offending in the City of Whittlesea. Leading to a “A Safer, Stronger, and More United Whittlesea”

 

As a Councillor of the City of Whittlesea, I stand with every resident who wants to live, work, raise a family, or run a business in a safe, supportive, and connected community. Since joining council recent crime trends in our municipality have alarmed me. The crime data confirms what residents have been telling me. That the following offences are on the rise:

 

1. Drug related offences.

2. Public order and weapons offences.

3. Home invasions.

4. Residential burglary (aggravated).

5. Residential burglary (non-aggravated).

6. Youth and youth gang offending (under 17 years).

7. Theft (including shoplifting).

8. Criminal damage (graffiti, vandalism).

9. Theft from motor vehicles.

10. Motor vehicle theft.

11. Motor vehicle theft.

12. Family violence incidents; and

13. Breaches of family violence orders.

 

That is why I have developed this my ‘Community Crime Reduction and Prevention Action Plan,’ not only to address these issues, but to lead a proactive, well resourced, and united response driven by evidence, accountability, and genuine collaboration. This is more than a plan. It an achievable promise if implemented.

 

The Crime Context, City of Whittlesea (March 2025).

 

Major Crime Categories, Analysis.

 

Crime Category Reported Offences % Change (YoY) Key Concerns

 

Theft from Motor Vehicles

Reported Offences: 2,463.

Increase of: +71%

 

Sharp rise across retail car parks, residential streets, and public transport hubs. Often involves smashed windows and stolen bags or electronics.

 

Motor Vehicle Theft

Reported Offences: 871.

Increase of: +73%

 

Vehicles often stolen from driveways and public car parks, with some later recovered in neighbouring LGAs. Indicators suggest both youth and organised theft syndicates are involved.

 

Family Violence Incidents.

Reported Offences: 3,319.

Increase of: +46%

 

Represents a growing social crisis. Family violence now accounts for a significant portion of all police callouts across Whittlesea. Victims are disproportionately women and children.

 

Breaches of Family Violence Orders

Reported Offences: 2,145.

Increase of: +9%

 

Demonstrates repeat offending and enforcement gaps. Indicates difficulty in monitoring high risk individuals.

 

Residential Burglary (Aggravated)

N/P

Increase of: +28% (est.)

 

Break ins while residents are present considered high impact crimes. Targeted suburbs include Mill Park, Thomastown, and Epping.

 

Residential Burglary (Non Aggravated)

N/P

Increase of: +21% (est.)

 

Daytime or holiday break ins when homes are vacant. Often includes forced entry and significant property loss.

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Youth Offending (Under 17s)

N/P

Increase of: +16%

 

Includes group theft, criminal damage, assault, and car related offences. Often concentrated in public spaces and transit corridors.

 

Other Theft (including shoplifting)

Reported Offences: 2,046.

Increase of: +52%

 

Includes opportunistic theft from retailers and personal property from public venues (gyms, cafés, etc) and youth gang related organised thefts.

 

Public Order and Weapons Offences

Data not specified

Increasing

 

Associated with antisocial behaviour, substance misuse, and unauthorised youth gatherings. Emerging concerns around knives, machete's etc carried by youth.

 

Criminal Damage (Graffiti, Vandalism)

Data not specified

Increasing

 

Damages to public toilets, park benches, bus stops, and private fences. Vandalism clusters around Thomastown and Lalor.

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Drug Offences

Data not specified

Increasing

 

Includes possession and trafficking of cannabis, methamphetamine and prescription medication, particularly among 18 to 35 age group.

 

Illegally Dumped Rubbish / Environmental Crime

Reported to Council

Increasing

 

Primarily commercial and construction waste often dumped along rural roads and reserves. Some offenders are known repeat corporate or trade offenders.

 

Hotspot suburbs within the City of Whittlesea include:

 

Epping, Thomastown, Mill Park, Lalor, and Bundoora.

 

Your Council's Commitment to Safety

 

City of Whittlesea Council does take these matters seriously. As a Counsellor of the City of Whittlesea, I know that council has already committed budget funding for enhanced youth programs in 2025/2026, recognising the need for early intervention, skill building, and community engagement for young people at risk of offending or disengagement. However, this challenge demands more. That is why I intend to present both this Action Plan and my Community Crime Prevention Expo Concept Plan to Council in August 2025 to be considered and adopted as a whole of Council initiative to reduce crime and strengthening community safety.

 

Overall Crime Summary

 

The City of Whittlesea recorded 17,841 offences in the year ending March 2025 indicating a 29.2% increase from the previous year. Compared to Victoria (Statewide) Offences average increasing by 10.9% over the same period. While our City continues to report lower overall rates of property and personal crime compared to the Victorian average, the rate of increase in crime is significantly higher for vehicle theft, theft from motor vehicles, family violence and youth related crime. The City of Whittlesea is facing a clear and concerning upward trend in crime, highlighting the need for immediate action and a coordinated, whole of community prevention strategy.

 

Strategic Pillars and Expanded Initiatives

 

1. Community Crime Education and Prevention Awareness

 

Objective: Empower residents to prevent crime before it occurs, through target hardening techniques and methodologies. Initiatives will include:

 

Community Safety Knowledge Series, monthly education events at libraries, schools, and community centres covering home safety, cybercrime, domestic violence signs, safe commuting, and increase self-situational awareness techniques.

 

Digital Safety Kits, downloadable, multilingual resources distributed via the Council website and social media, including:

 

• Home burglary prevention checklists.

 

• “How to report a crime” guides and checklists.

 

• The design and development of a criminal act report algorithm app for immediate smart phone use; and

 

• Personal safety awareness factsheets.

 

Safety Ambassadors Program: Train 100 community volunteers to lead neighbourhood safety workshops and serve as liaisons between Council, Police, and the community.

 

2. Police, Enforcement, and Infrastructure Investment

 

Objective: Deliver a visible, intelligence led deterrent to criminal activity in the City of Whittlesea.

Initiatives will include:

 

• Mobile Enforcement Hubs: Deploy pop up Council and Police community safety pop ups in hotspot areas (shopping centres, bus interchanges, parks, railway stations) to improve police visibility and provide direct access to reporting and support services.

 

• Safe Suburb Infrastructure Grants: Allocate funding for neighbourhoods to apply for CCTV, bollard lighting, community noticeboards, and fencing upgrades; and

 

• Public Safety Infrastructure Plan: Audit and upgrade all public open spaces across Whittlesea using CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) principles.

 

3. Youth Crime Prevention, Inclusion and Empowerment

 

Objective: Redirect at risk youth through structured support and real opportunity. Initiatives will include:

 

• A Council Community Youth Advisory Committee: To establish a direct line between young people and council to advise on safety, engagement, and development.

 

• Resilience Through Sports Program: A Council funded initiative with sporting clubs offering young people free access to structured activity, mentoring, and leadership development.

 

• Youth Justice Referral Pathways: Advocate with local magistrates’ and youth justice officers to refer low risk young offenders to diversion programs which would include:

 

I. Community restitution projects.

II. Vocational training and apprenticeships; and

III. Mental health and trauma informed care support.

 

• Mobile Youth Outreach Vans: Deliver nighttime street engagement with detached youth, staffed by youth workers, community leaders, and vocational mental health professionals.

 

4. Family Violence Reduction and Survivor Support

 

Objective: Prevent violence in the home and support survivors to rebuild safely. Initiatives will include:

 

1. Local Family Violence Action Plans: Develop ward based prevention strategies with local services, schools, women’s groups, and multicultural organisations.

2. Survivor Safety Upgrade Fund: State government and Council funded grants to support urgent home security upgrades (locks, doors, cameras) for women, children and the elderly at risk.

3. Men’s Behaviour Change Network: Collaborate with services like Relationships Australia to deliver localised early intervention and accountability programs for perpetrators; and

4. Annual Domestic Violence Memorial Event: Honour victims and raise awareness and campaign showcasing real survivor stories.

 

5. Community Led Safety: The Whittlesea Crime Prevention Expo 2026

 

The Whittlesea Crime Prevention Expo 2026 is an innovative community safety initiative. It forms an increased community liaison with Victoria Police, local businesses, community groups and emergency services. They take on roles of key stake holders.

 

This expo is designed to be the largest (crime prevention and public safety) event in the City of Whittlesea, providing practical, hands on crime prevention personal, domestic and commercial target hardening strategies for residents and businesses.

 

By bringing together police, security industry professionals, local government, and the community, the expo will empower attendees with knowledge, tools, and resources to enhance safety, reduce crime, and strengthen City of Whittlesea council, police and community relationships.

 

With the slogan ‘Safer Street, Stronger Community,’ this event highlights the importance of collaboration in crime prevention, emphasising that security and the reduction of crime in the City of Whittlesea is a shared responsibility between police, local government, businesses, and residents.

​

This Community Crime Prevention Expo will:

a. Educate residents on crime prevention measures through industry subject matter expert led workshops, presentations and demonstrations.

 

b. Highlight the latest advancements in personal, domestic and commercial security technology, and home protection through Expo exhibits.

 

c. Engage with the business community, and community groups to develop crime prevention strategies for personal, domestic and commercial properties.

 

d. Strengthen trust and cooperation between council, police and the community; and

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e. Provide long term community safety initiatives beyond the event for the continued benefit of the whole municipality.

 

This groundbreaking no cost for entry initiative will serve as a model for crime prevention events nationwide, positioning the City of Whittlesea council as a local government leader in community safety and proactive crime prevention strategies.

 

6. Data, Transparency and Leadership

 

Objective: To improve public confidence, accountability and participation.

Initiatives will include:

 

1. Whittlesea Community Safety Dashboard, A public portal displaying local crime trends, Council response actions, safety funding allocations, and project updates.

2. Mayor’s Annual Safety Community Forums to be held at council’s main hall, with police, industry experts, residents, and safety advocates to hear concerns, share updates, and report progress; and

3. Annual Safety Report Card, A Transparent community report issued each March, tracking crime stats, Council and community responses, and outcomes.

 

Implementation, Oversight and Funding

 

Once presented to Council, my objective is for council to consider and adopt this Action Plan as a:

 

1. A Council wide Strategic Policy.

2. Resourced through:

​

i. Existing youth and safety budget allocations.

ii. State and Federal grants.

iii. Corporate and security industry sponsorship for the Community Crime Prevention Expo; and

iv. Dedicated crime prevention funding lines in State Government and / or Council’s

Strategic Resource Plans.

 

It will be governed by a newly formed Community Safety and Prevention Committee, chaired by the Mayor, reporting quarterly to Council and annually to the public.

 

Success Measures

 

Key performance indicators would include:

 

1. Reduction in crime rates across all wards and hotspot suburbs within the City of Whittlesea.

2. Increase in youth diversion and education re engagement.

3. Uptake of State Governments and Council funded security upgrades and grants.

4. Community participation in forums, education sessions and the Community Crime Prevention Expo; and

5. Improved community perception of safety (tracked via annual survey).

 

Conclusion: Leadership, Action, Results

 

Crime is not someone else’s problem it’s ours. As a councillor of the Whittlesea City Council, I take this responsibility seriously, and I am proud to guide a Council that is equally committed to change.

 

This plan is ambitious because it must be. It is grounded in data, backed by evidence, and supported by the community. But above all, it is a plan of action. That will evolve through direct consultation and engagement with our community , key stake holders and partner agencies.

 

We are not here to manage crime. We are here to retard and prevent it.

 

We are not here to make statements. We are here to deliver results.

 

Together, let’s lead the way for our family’s, our streets, our homes, and our future.

 

This is our Whittlesea. Our home, Our responsibility, Our future, a place where everyone deserves to feel safe.