However, Crime Statistics Agency data released today shows the total number of offences fell 2 per cent from 2015's total of 1099.

Ararat's total number of reported offences rose by 6.8 per cent to 1390 for the year ending June 2020.

The total number of offences has risen by 22 per cent in five years - up from 1138 in 2015.

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The Northern Grampians shire has also experienced increases in the number of reported offences.

There were 1077 reported offences in the Northern Grampians - an increase of 8 per cent on last year's total of 996.

The number of reported offences in Horsham has fallen by nearly 20 per cent in the past five years

There were 2279 reported offences in Horsham for the year ending June 2020.

This is a 16 per cent decrease on last year's total of 2725, and a 19.4 per cent decrease on the 2829 offences recorded in 2015.

Horsham's overall offence rate dropped to 11,434 per 100,000 people - a decrease of 16.4 per cent.

However, the crime rate remains higher than other regional centres, such as Ballarat (9379) and Greater Bendigo (9347).

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The number of reported offences in the Yarriambiack shire jumped by more than 36 per cent, to a total of 554 for the year ending June 2020.

This total is also an increase of nearly 47 per cent on the 377 reported offences in 2015.

There were 356 reported offences in the Hindmarsh shire, up more than 80 per cent from the total of 197 five years ago.

The number of reported offences in the West Wimmera shire fell by 5 per cent to a total of 169.

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