Ballarat records more domestic violence
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There has been a dramatic increase in domestic violence in the Ballarat and central goldfields regions.
Victorian police crime statistics show reports of family violence in the Ballarat region increased by almost 40 per cent in the year to July.
Overall, Ballarat's crime rate rose by 9 per cent.
In the central goldfields area, crime jumped by nearly 30 per cent.
Police say part of the rise can be explained by increased reporting of domestic violence.
In response, a new family violence police unit will be based at Ballarat.
In south-west Victoria, Warrnambool's crime rate rose by 2.4 per cent, but there were decreases in the Corangamite and Southern Grampians regions.
Police say they have been targeting repeat offenders and it is paying off.
But officers are still concerned about the rate of street assaults and car break-ins in Warrnambool.
