Crime statistics for the year ending 31st March 2017 were released late last week and reveal that the crime rate in the Hindmarsh local government area is up for that period.

Overall, the rate of reported crimes committed is up 53.8% compared to the year ending March 2016.

In the Dimboola district, the increase is more disappointing: an increase of 96.2%.

Dangerous and negligent acts endangering people in the Dimboola area are up 500%, from 2 to 12 reported cases. There was a total of 18 such cases reported in the Hindmarsh area in this time.

Drug use and possession charges are down slightly in Dimboola, from 6 to 4, while reported dealing and trafficking charges remained steady at 1 reported case in both 2015/2016 and 2016/2017.

Disorderly and offensive conduct reports remained the same as the previous year with 2 cases reported in Dimboola.

Property damage offences were more than doubled, up from 9 cases to 19.

Despite family crime rates decreasing in 43% of local government areas across the state, in Hindmarsh they increased from 88 to 116.