NCJ Number
67131
Date Published
1977
Length
79 pages
Annotation
THE 1977 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE VICTORIA POLICE DEPARTMENT IN AUSTRALIA EMPHASIZES COORDINATION OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND OPERATIONAL ACTIVITIES AS THE MAIN FACTOR IN EFFICIENT POLICE WORK.
Abstract
DURING 1977 REPORTED SERIOUS CRIMES NUMBERED 129,164, AN INCREASE OF 11.2 PERCENT FROM 1976. THE LARGEST SINGLE INCREASE WAS IN VEHICLE THEFTS (26 PERCENT). MAJOR AREAS OF CONCERN WERE ARMED ROBBERIES. BURGLARIES, DRUG RELATED OFFENSES AND CORPORATE CRIME. THERE WERE 65 MURDERS COMMITTED (6 REMAINED UNSOLVED), WHICH WAS THE HIGHEST RECORDED NUMBER IN COMPARISON WITH PREVIOUS YEARS. MOVING PART OF THE DEPARTMENT TO NEW, BIGGER HEADQUARTERS SHOULD HELP IN DEALING WITH THE ABOVE PROBLEMS BY INCREASING THE DEPARTMENT EFFICIENCY. ALONG WITH CRIME INCREASES, TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS WERE A MAJOR PROBLEM IN 1977. THERE WERE 41,481 ACCIDENTS IN WHICH 955 PERSONS WERE KILLED, DUE TO ALCOHOL ABUSE AND SPEEDING. COMMUNITY AND THE POLICE COOPERATION SHOULD BE INCREASED TO LOWER THE NUMBER OF ROAD COLLISIONS. DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PERFORMANCE OF EACH SECTION DEPARTMENT ARE INCLUDED, TOGETHER WITH STATISTICAL DATA.