• Footscray, Yarraville, Braybrook Star

By Charlene Gatt

15th September 2009 11:05:40 AM

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MORE than 70 per cent of crime in the City of Maribyrnong is committed by offenders living outside the municipality, with many descending from neighboring areas across the western suburbs.

Footscray police figures from September 2008 show that Brimbank residents were responsible for 426 offences in the City of Maribyrnong, with the main culprits coming from St Albans (108) and Sunshine (72).

A total 172 charges were laid against Hobsons Bay residents, and 151 offenders came from Wyndham.

City of Maribyrnong residents were responsible for 546 of the 2000 offences.

It is believed the bulk of offenders were people in their late teens and early 20s.

Footscray Inspector Ian Geddes said the figures pinpointed a drastic demographic change in the City of Maribyrnong, with rising house prices and the advent of cashed-up power couples and families to the area driving Maribyrnong’s “traditional residents” out of the municipality.

“The figures are indicative of the rebirth of the area. It shows that the group of offenders…that was characterised by low socio-economic status, is being displaced through the house prices.”

Insp Geddes said in the past Maribyrnong residents were known to offend largely in their own area. He said while some Maribyrnong residents may offend outside their municipality, it was likely to be in much smaller numbers. “There won’t be 500 (Maribyrnong) people offending in Brimbank,” he said.

RMIT Criminal Justice programs lecturer Marietta Martinovic was unsurprised by the figures, saying St Albans and Sunshine were considered some of the most disadvantaged areas in terms of educational attainment, income, employment, occupation, labour force participation and a higher immigration rate.

Western Metropolitan Region MP Bernie Finn said the numbers were further proof of the “real police crisis” in the West.

“If you’re being bashed within an inch of your life, or you’ve just had your car stolen, the last statistic that you need to know is where the person who’s done it lives. What you really need in that circumstance is a police officer who is nearby and will either protect you, or get your car back. We need less statistics like this and more police officers on the streets.

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