In 2015-16, Hindmarsh Shire recorded a 50.4 per cent increase in the crime rate and Yarriambiack a 38.9 per cent increase.

The crime rate in Ararat Rural City increased 7.7 per cent, and Northern Grampians Shire saw a 5.3 per cent increase.

West Wimmera Shire had a five per cent increase and Horsham Rural City 0.69 per cent.

Wimmera Superintendent Paul Margetts said the increase did not reflect an increase in crime itself. 

“It’s more so about reporting,” he said.

“We know there will always be a level of crime, there will always be some crime in the community.

“The important thing is reporting and that people come to us so we can tackle it.”

Mr Margetts said public engagement campaigns had succeed in getting communities to report unlawful behaviour to police.

He said because of the general low level of crime in the areas, the additional reports show up in statistics as a significantly increased percentage crime rate.

“Overall I think we’ve done quite well,” he said.

“We expected some increase because public information forums have encouraged people to report crime.

“We are also advising the community about the processes behind reporting crime and have a victim-centric approach to reporting crime.”

Mr Margetts said public tip-offs and the dob in the dealer program had meant Northern Grampians police were able identify and deal with a number of drug offences in the region. 

He said this was reflected in the 31 per cent increase in drug dealing and trafficking offences reported in the service area, along with the 40 per cent increase shown for cultivating drugs offences.

Horsham police service area saw a 183 per cent increase offences relating to obtaining financial advantage by deception. Mr Margetts said the offences related mostly to a single offender who was defrauding his employer. 

“Generally in apprehending an offender for deception offences it identifies previous offending,” he said.

“We might get a report of one or two offences from an employer, then an in depth investigation uncovers hundreds.

“If an employee was to deceive and employer of $20 a day, everyday for a year, you’d end up with 365 different offences.”

Horsham police service area also saw a 40 per cent increase in property damage crimes and a 140 per cent increase in other government regulatory offences. 

Northern Grampians police service area recorded a 48 per cent increase in public nuisance offending and the Horsham area had a 20 per cent increase.

“It’s more about us targeting our patrols and being prepared for public events when they’re on,” Mr Margetts said. 

Northern Grampians also saw a 32 per cent increase in break and enter offences.