March 25, 2022
12496497-CG22-21
FREE DIGITAL EDITION
SIG N U P N O W!
Studio doors thrown open Artists across the Bellarine Peninsula are welcoming the community into their studios for Geelong Design Week. One of Design Week’s major attractions, the Open Studios trail, saw many Bellarine studios and artists, including glass artist David Hobday’s Point Lonsdale studio, Salt Gallery in Queenscliff and Ocean Grove’s The Hive Gallery, welcome visitors for a behind the scenes look into their workspaces. The program will continue this weekend, with another 15 galleries and studios, featuring 48 artists, around Geelong opening up their doors from 10am to 4pm. The program is just one of more than 60 events across the region during the 10-day celebration of Geelong’s title as Australia’s only designated UNESCO Creative City of Design. The festival kicked off on Thursday, March 17 with musician and actress Claire Bowditch at the Palais Theatre. Geelong Design Week runs until Sunday, March 27. ■ More
Ceramic artist Jan Smith in her Boathouse studio in Barwon Heads. (Ivan Kemp) 272936_06
Open Studios trail pictures: Page 20
Crime drops in Geelong By Ash Bolt Greater Geelong has seen the number of criminal incidents reported to police drop by more than 10 per cent in 2021. Latest Crime Statistics Agency data shows there were 14,757 criminal incidents recorded in Greater Geelong in 2021. That was a 10.8 per cent decrease on the 16,564 recorded in 2020, and the lowest recorded in the municipality since 2013. The number of offences recorded also dropped by 12.9 per cent, from 22,984 in 2020 to 20,018 in 2021. “While COVID-19 lockdowns and heavy restrictions on movement have absolutely
contributed to a drop in overall crime over the last 12 months, it is extremely pleasing to see a reduction in offences that seriously impact the community such as home burglaries and car thefts, which are both at 10-year lows,” Geelong Police superintendent Peter Green said. “Despite this, police have certainly not been taking their foot off the pedal when it comes to tackling crime. “We have been working tirelessly to keep the Geelong community safe – from the police vehicle patrolling your neighbourhood to keep thieves at bay, to the detectives investigating, arresting and prosecuting some of our more serious offenders.”
Drug offences saw one of the biggest changes, dropping by more than one-third. The change was down to a 35 per cent drop in drug use and possession offences. Property offences had a 14 per cent reduction, with 105 less home burglaries and 79 less car theft offences recorded. There were also 288 less criminal damage offences recorded. Superintendent Green said police expected crime would rise as in 2022 as people experience more freedoms following the easing of COVID restrictions. “As the community continues to emerge from the pandemic, police are expecting to see an increase in overall crime, however the early
Come in and see whats new! with our new specials at 12541766-LB12-22
signs are fairly positive,” he said. “We are yet to see a rapid return across all crime categories to pre-pandemic levels of offending. “With pubs and clubs back at full capacity and events such as music festivals resuming, police anticipate drug-related offending will again rise in line with people obtaining and using illicit drugs more frequently. “By the same token, we expect to see an increase in home burglaries and car thefts as people move about the region more freely but police will continue to proactively target this offending via the sharing of intelligence and monitoring recidivist offenders to ensure they are complying with their bail conditions.”
Flip over to the back page for our new specials!