The community's greatest fear became a reality as the latest Crime statistics for the past year confirmed the statewide COVID-19 lockdowns contributed to a 25.2 per cent increase in criminal offences recorded across the local government area.

Overall, 1580 criminal offences were recorded, up from 1262 in 2019.

This marked a 17.2 per cent increase across the past two years.

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Forty per cent of the victims were male and 38 per cent were female.

Family violence incidents rose by 35 per cent during 2020, with 363 offences recorded, making it the worst year for the area since statistics became publicly available in 2016.

More than three-quarters of the victims were female; 28 per cent were aged 25-34 years old.

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Theft and property damage were the most prolific subdivisions of criminal offences, with 179 incidents, making it the worst year since 2013.

There was a 95 per cent increase in offences, with 84 people charged, including 62 for drug use and possession.

With the Victorian Government's COVID-19 restrictions in force, 80 people were charges with public health and safety offences.

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