Action Plan to Reduce Crime and Youth Offending in the City of Whittlesea.

As a Councillor and resident of the City of Whittlesea, I proudly stand with every resident who wants to live, work, raise a family, or operate a business in a community that is safe, supportive, and united. Since joining Council, I have closely monitored crime trends across our municipality. Like many of you, I am concerned. The rise in youth offending, family violence, vehicle theft, and opportunistic crime is not only alarming it is unacceptable.

These trends demand more than awareness, they require coordinated, evidence based, and community led action. In the year ending March 2025, the City of Whittlesea recorded approximately 17,841 offences, a 29.2% increase from the previous year. This compares to a 10.9% increase in offences across Victoria over the same period. While our municipality continues to report lower overall rates of property and personal crime than the state average, the rate of increase in key crime categories including vehicle theft, theft from motor vehicles, family violence, assault and youth crime are higher.

This is a clear signal that we must act, and we must act together. Our strength lies in our unity. This is not about fear it is about taking proactive, thoughtful, and inclusive steps forward. By reducing crime and addressing its root causes, we can build a safer, stronger, and more united City of Whittlesea for everyone.

I invite all residents, businesses, and community leaders to engage and read with my Comprehensive Community Crime Reduction and Prevention Action Plan at https://www.martinjohntaylor.com/q-a-with-martin Together, we can take back our streets, support our young people, and build a community we are all proud to call home. Your voice, your concerns, and your solutions matter to me.

In March of this year, I developed and wrote an innovative initiative to reduce Crime in our municipality. Titled the Community Crime Prevention Expo Concept Plan. Please note that the City of Whittlesea is currently in the midst of a by-election for the Lalor Ward and as such I am unable to discuss requests for details of my proposed Action Plan and Exp[o Action Plan until after 2 August 2025.

Then at that time I will be pleased to meet with your community groups, and speak openly and in depth, on initiatives to move forward together. This is our Whittlesea, Our home, Our responsibility, Our future and Our place where everyone deserves to feel safe.

https://www.martinjohntaylor.com/

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