Mansfield Shire's crime rate has dropped an impressive 16.5 per cent in the past 12 months, bucking a statewide trend that has seen a double digit increase.

Crime Statistic Agency figures for the past 12 months to 30 June, 2025 show the number of criminal incidents recorded by Victoria Police across the state jumped 18.3 per cent to 483,583 incidents, while the number of offences rose 15.7 per cent to 638,640.

Sitting close to the ten year low - comparable to 2023 figures - Mansfield Shire saw criminal incidents drop to 308 from the previous year's total of 369, with charges laid in 35.1 per cent of cases, no charges laid in 27.3 per cent of cases and 37.7 per cent listed as unsolved.

Offences in Mansfield itself dropped from 2024 figures of 209 to 161 in 2025 and also dropped from 44 to 40 in Bonnie Doon.

Jamieson continues to experience a rise in crime with 2025 registering 26 incidents up from 17 in 2024.

Maindample and Kevington also featured amongst the top five townships in 2025 for crime with both communities reporting nine criminal incidents, ousting both Goughs Bay and Merrijig from the list, indicative of the nature of offending with multiple charges often stemming from one incidence.

Theft was the most common offence in 2025 with 34 incidences, with criminal damage coming in second at 31.

Representing a significant drop from 52 incidents reported in 2024, criminal damage was previously the shire's principal offence.

Pleasingly, family violence order breaches continue to drop shire-wide with 19 reported, down well over 50 per cent from the 43 reported in 2024.

Also making the top five principal offences were non-family violent common assault and stealing from a motor vehicle, replacing breach of intervention orders and graffiti in the subgroups.

Acting Senior Sergeant Melanie Walker from Benalla Uniform who was on secondment at Mansfield said the figures were a very positive result locally "which is a reflection of the positive engagement and expectations we all share for our community".

State Member for Eildon and Shadow Minister for Crime Prevention, Cindy McLeish MP said luckily crime statistics locally are holding steady, however statewide was a different story.

Ms McLeish said crime across Victoria is out of control.

Deputy Commissioner regional operations, Rob Hill, said, as a society, we simply cannot allow the level of crime we are seeing to become normalised and accepted, and that “Victoria Police is tackling these issues head on".

"Our members are doing exceptional work to resolve these crimes, but it must be said - the number of arrests we are seeing reflects an unacceptable level of offending," he said.

“We will continue to make arrests and hold offenders to account, but we need to prevent and deter crime to reduce offending so that there are fewer victims in Victoria.

“Right now we are working on new approaches that will deter repeat offenders and help stop these crimes before they can occur.

"This includes a focus on how we can get more police out on the streets.

“We will continue to work with government and our partners on developing strategies and solutions for preventing and responding to crime in Victoria.

“And we will encourage the community to keep taking simple steps to help prevent crime, such as locking doors and considering anti-theft devices for vehicles."

Statewide, theft from motor vehicles was up 39.4pc, motor vehicle theft was up 42.1pc, family violence order breaches were up 16.7pc, theft from a retail store was up 27.6pc and theft was 15.7pc.