Crime in one state has fallen by more than two per cent in the past year, but police warn overall offending remains significantly higher than historical levels.
Victoria recorded 624,624 criminal offences in the 12 months to June, a reduction of 13,360 offences compared with the previous financial year, according to Victoria's Crime Statistics Agency figures released on Thursday.
Victoria Police said the figures represented a period of stabilisation following sustained increases, but warned crime levels remained "unacceptably high" and continue to sit above historical norms.
The crime rate, which accounts for population growth, fell 3.8 per cent to 8679.6 offences per 100,000 people.
Serious and violent crime fell 4.1 per cent, including significant reductions in robbery, down 22.9 per cent; residential aggravated burglary, down 27 per cent; carjackings and attempted carjackings, down 25.4 per cent; and overall burglary, down 19.9 per cent.
Police attributed some of the reductions to increased visible and proactive policing.
The force made a record 77,175 arrests involving 27,092 people during the reporting period.
But other areas of offending continued to rise.
Drug offenders apprehended increased 11.6 per cent, while the number of offenders processed for drug trafficking and dealing rose 18.5 per cent.
Police also recorded a 2.7 per cent increase in retail theft, with 43,124 offences recorded. Police said the rise was partly attributable to new online reporting systems that had improved visibility of retail and petrol theft.
Breaches of orders remained the state's largest contributor to recorded crime, with 87,257 offences accounting for 14 per cent of all crime. The category, which includes breaches of intervention orders and bail conditions, increased four per cent.
Theft from motor vehicles, the second-largest category, fell 10.4 per cent, while motor vehicle theft declined 5.2 per cent.
Family violence-related incidents fell 3.4 per cent overall, but some serious categories increased. Family violence-related assaults rose 1.6 per cent and family violence-related serious assaults increased 15.8 per cent.
Police said they made about 16,500 family violence arrests during the year.
Road trauma also improved, with fatalities down 14.2 per cent in 2026 to date. Police conducted 3.225 million roadside alcohol tests and 173,967 drug tests during the financial year.
The figures come as Victoria Police continues to face significant staffing pressures, with 1340 full-time equivalent sworn police vacancies recorded as of August 31.
Deputy Commissioner Regional Operations Bob Hill said the reduction in serious and violent crime was encouraging, but added: "Our work is far from over."
"While it is pleasing to see overall crime figures stabilising, and many categories seeing reductions, general levels remain elevated," he said.
