BERWICK
Thursday, 22 December, 2022
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Charges ‘never a prospect’
MP bumped to CBD office
Casey sticks with tradition
Berwick on the back foot
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SPORT to all our valued readers...
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Cup comes to Casey Melbourne Demons AFLW fans got up close and personal with the 2022 Premiership Cup at Bunjil Place on Monday 19 December. General manager of Melbourne’s AFLW program, Marcus Wagner said bringing the cup to Bunjil Place was a special occasion. “Casey is home for our AFLW program, and the local community has shown immense support since the beginning of the competition - particularly this year, with back-to-back seasons,” Mr Wagner said. “We love our connection with the City of Casey and look forward to supporting each other in the years to come.” Story page 6
Casey residents Natalie, Lachie, Nydane and Tim. 311779
Crime on the rise A jump in theft, drug possession and sexual offences in Casey has culminated in an overall 4.2 per cent rise in crime in the municipality this year. The Crime Statistics Agency released its findings for the year ending 30 September 2022 last week, analysing crime rates across the state. The City of Casey recorded 20,491 offences for 2022, with breaching a family violence order the most prevalent offence, recorded 2839 times. Despite the increase, the overall crime rate
in Casey is at its third lowest rate in seven years, a reduction of 2856 offences from the highest rate of 23,347 offences in 2016. Casey’s offence rate for the year ending September 2022 was also significantly lower than the Victorian average, recording a rate of 5435.7 compared to 7196.4 for the state. Concerningly, sexual offences in Casey shot up by 32 per cent, while abduction-related offences almost doubled. Stalking, harassment and threatening behaviour rose by 10 per cent, the highest it has been since 2016. Theft rose marginally, but was also down significantly on pre-pandemic levels.
Cranbourne was named the municipality’s most dangerous suburb, with 2801 recorded offences in 2022, followed by Narre Warren, Berwick, Hampton Park and Clyde North. Casey Local Area Commander Inspector Melissa Webbers said the community can rest assured Casey police will be on the roads, at popular community locations and entertainment districts to ensure everyone is able to enjoy the festive season and the New Year. “While we are seeing a gradual increase in crime as we move further away from the pandemic, police in Casey will continue to do everything we can to keep crime as low as possible,” she said.
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“Home burglaries, car theft, criminal damage and sexual offences are some of our key priorities with teams of uniform police and detectives working to prevent this type of offending and apprehend offenders. “Our strong approach to community safety will continue with a number of initiatives from our Casey Community Policing Team, who are out engaging with the local community on a daily basis, local transit police, who actively patrol the public transport network, to specialised sexual and family violence detectives who are tasked to thoroughly investigate every single report of sexual and family violence.” Continued page 5
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By Eleanor Wilson