Crime Statistics Agency releases first Victorian bail statistics

The Crime Statistics Agency (CSA) released the Victorian recorded crime statistics for the year ending 30 June 2025 on 25 September, which included the first release of bail statistics.

The rate of recorded offences increased, up 13.8% to 8,998.9 per 100,000 Victorians in the last 12 months, while the number of offences increased 15.7% to 638,640. Property and deception offences had the largest increase in the last 12 months, up 21.2% or 66,144 to 378,050 offences. The main driver of the increase was Theft offences, up 54,175 to 246,654 offences due to Steal from a motor vehicle offences, which were up 24,409 to 86,351 offences in the last 12 months.

In the 12 months to 30 June 2025, the number of criminal incidents increased, up 18.3% or 74,653 to 483,583 incidents. The rate also increased, up 16.3% to 6,814 per 100,000 Victorians. Criminal incidents have reached their highest recorded figures since the commencement of CSA reporting in 2004-05.

Alleged offender incidents increased 19.3% to 196,456 in the last 12 months, as did the rate up 17.2% to 3,123.3 per 100,000. Theft incidents increased by 33.8% or 11,457 to 45,304 alleged offender incidents. Specifically, Steal from a retail store incidents increased 41.8% or 6,040 to 20,474 alleged offender incidents.

The victimisation rate increased by 16.1% to 3,956.8 reports per 100,000 Victorians. The number of person-related victim reports was up 18.0% to 280,805 and organisation reports was up 25.1% to 117,219. The rise in person victim reports was primarily driven by theft (up 28.7% to 131,802).

Family incidents increased by 7.7% in the last 12 months, with 106,427 incidents recorded across Victoria. The rate also increased, up 5.9% or 1,499.6 incidents per 100,000 Victorians.

Following recent enabling amendments to the Crime Statistics Act 2014 that allow the Chief Statistician to obtain data from the criminal courts, the CSA has been developing bail statistics for Victoria. The first published bail statistics relate to bail decisions made across relevant agencies: Victoria Police, bail justices and the criminal courts, along with remand information from Youth Justice and Corrections Victoria. Bail applications to the Magistrates’ Court increased 18.4% in the last 12 months, driven by increased bail refusals and revocations. Unsentenced receptions to Youth Justice remain well below the 10-year peak in 2020, but increased 35.0% in the last 12 months.

Published bail statistics will be progressively expanded over coming releases. CSA Chief Statistician Fiona Dowsley said that “This initial set of bail statistics collated from multiple agencies is a first step to helping us better understand the impacts of bail or remand decisions on an alleged offender’s pathway through the criminal justice system and further offending”.

For further information, email CSA: info@crimestatistics.vic.gov.au(opens in a new window).