BERWICK
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Thursday, 23 March, 2023
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Anna celebrates 105th birthday
Kids’ day out beats the heat Strong winds and sweltering temperatures were not enough to discourage excited families from heading to the sold-out Casey Kids Carnival on Saturday 18 March. In its 25th year, the Casey Kids Carnival is one of the council’s most popular annual events and sees thousands of families from across the municipality fill the grounds of Berwick’s Old Cheese Factory. Story page 16 Berwick CFA firefighter Max showing Oliver and Ziyu some of the equipment at the Casey Kids Carnival. 324462 Picture: Gary Sissons
Casey crime spike By Eleanor Wilson A rise in theft, assault and criminal damage culminated in a 5.4 per cent spike in criminal offences in Casey last year, according to fresh data released by the Crime Statistics Agency. The jump follows a 14.7 per cent reduction in crime in the municipality in 2021, but overall offences in Casey were at the second lowest rate since 2013. Breaching a family violence order, theft,
stealing from a motor vehicle and criminal damage topped the municipality for types of offences last year. Reported offences rose more than 22 per cent in Narre Warren, 11 per cent in Hampton Park and more than 26 per cent in Clyde North. Cranbourne, which has the highest offence rate in Casey, recorded 42 more offences in 2022 compared to the previous year, representing a one per ncent increase.
Concerningly, cases of assault, stalking and harrassment were at the highest rate in at least 10 years, with recorded assaults growing nine per cent since last year. There were 188 more cases of property damage compared with 2021, while theft increased by six per cent. Family violence offences in Casey were 1.6 per cent higher than 2021 figures, but sat slightly under the Victorian average. The most common victims of family vio-
lence in Casey were women aged between 25 and 34. But overall, Casey’s offence rate per 100,000 of the population was over 30 per cent lower than the statewide average and remained significantly lower than the average for Southern Metropolitan Melbourne. Sexual offences in Casey were at the lowest rate since 2016, dropping seven per cent on 2021 figures. Continued page 7
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