CRIME UP AGAIN, VICTORIA SAFEST

New national crime figures reveal a massive rise in armed robberies and a
continuing climb in crime rates generally.

Armed robberies rose from 6256 in 1996 to 9015 in 1997, a 44 percent
national increase. The 40 percent increase in Victoria was below the
national average, while New South Wales fared worst - up 65 percent.

Despite the rise, the Australian Bureau of Statistics' report on crime in
1997 reveals that Victoria is still the safest state.

The new figures confirm that Victoria retains the mantle as Australia's
safest state, although the state's crime rates rose for the third
consecutive year, by 1.4 percent, a figure well below the national average
of 2.6 percent.

The state's overall crime rate was about 20 percent below the national
average. Victoria had 5349 victims of crime per 100,000 people compared with
a national average of 6683, a number up on 1996's 5273 victims.

The chief police commissioner, Mr Neil Comrie, said that despite the
national rise in areas such as murder, assault and armed robbery, Victoria
stayed below average.

In 1996 reported crime in Victoria was 19 percent below that national
average but Mr Comrie said no level of crime rate was acceptable. ``There is
no doubt that some of our long-term strategies are now paying dividends, and
some of our new ones are leading the country,'' he said.

Mr Comrie said serious crimes against people in Victoria were below the
national average. But, he said, police needed to tackle increasing armed
robberies on ``soft targets''.

Mr Comrie also said the drug problem had to be tackled because between 40
and 70per cent of crime was drug-related.

``The fewer drug addicts there are the less crime there will be, and we are
now taking a national lead in that area,'' he said.

Examples such as the drug diversion pilot program and DNA testing of
criminals would further reduce crime.

``There are no quick fixes to addressing crime but we have not taken
short-term, knee-jerk reactions to crime and that will pay substantial
dividends to our community,'' he said.

Checked-by: Melodi Cornett