AUSTRALIA
The Border Mail
Olivia Shying
@oliviashying
16 Mar 2017
A surge in reports of historical sex abuse offences may be behind Ballarat recording one of the highest numbers of sexual offences in the state in 2016, data shows.
Crime Statistics Agency data released today showed a 26.2 per cent rise in the number of sexual offences in Ballarat during 2016 compared to statewide 9.1 per cent increase.
Statewide Victoria Police recorded 12,956 sexual offences in 2016 with an offence rate of 214 offences per 100,000 people.
In five years, the number of sexual offences increased by 45 per cent, up from 8936 offences in 2012.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.