WORKING TO BRING CRIME DOWN… Cr Michael Polan discusses Shepparton’s crime with Detective Senior Sergeant, Alan Nilon of Shepparton Criminal Investigation Unit (CIU). Photo by Kelly Lucas.
But police figures show a decline
FAMILY First Leader, Senator Steve Fielding believes there is a problem, members of the community think there is a problem, but despite what we believe about crime in Shepparton, figures have reduced. Even after a couple of weeks that have seen an armed hold up, attempted abduction and a jewellery heist from a local jeweller, Detective Senior Sergeant, Alan Nilon of Shepparton Criminal Investigation Unit (CIU) said, “Crime figures are a bit like the stock market or the price of petrol, they vary from month to month and year to year.” Det Nilon said to judge overall crime you need to assess a five-year period.
“For example from the period of 2001 to 2006, there is roughly a total of 6,000 reported offences. That covers burglaries, damage to property, sex offences and armed robbery, every offence in the Shepparton area. In that five year period it was constant at the 6,000 mark, then from 2006 it has dropped to 4,500.” Det Nilon said that although there are still incidents, “There are very few good news stories in the media. The trouble is that people then perceive rightly or wrongly that the community is a...
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