Williamstown, VIC 3016 Crime Rate: Is it safe?

According to the Crime Statistics Agency (CSA) Victoria, Williamstown crime rate for the year ending June 2022 was 7754 incidents per 100,000 population. This represents a 15% increase from the previous year.

Williamstown Crime Index

37

(100 is safest)

Safer than 37% of most Australia suburbs

Williamstown Crime Map

Is Williamstown Safe?

Williamstown has low safety metrics. Crime rates in Williamstown are quite a bit higher than average regarding to most Australian suburbs. Williamstown is safer than 37% of all Australian suburbs and than 22% of Victoria suburbs. However, steal from a motor vehicle is a common offence in Williamstown.

Williamstown Crime Statistics at a Glance

Has Crime in Williamstown increased or decreased in the past 5 years? The chart below shows the 60-month historical trend of the number of offences that occurred in Williamstown.

• The number of criminal incidents recorded by Victoria Police in the year 2022 was 1112, up 15% from 968 incidents recorded in the same period last year.

• Williamstown is in the 22nd percentile for safety, meaning 78% of Victoria suburbs are safer than Williamstown and 22% of suburbs are more dangerous than Williamstown.

• Common crime: steal from a motor vehicle.

• The number of assault offences recorded in 2022 increased by 6% (5 Incidents) compared to the previous year..

• The number of deception offences recorded in 2022 increased by 6% (3 Incidents) compared to the previous year.

• The number of burglary offences recorded in 2022 increased by 35% (16 Incidents) compared to the previous year.

• The number of theft offences recorded in 2022 increased by 55% (176 Incidents) compared to the previous year.

• The number of robbery offences recorded in 2022 decreased by 86% (6 Incidents) compared to the previous year.

• The number of motor vehicle thefts recorded in 2022 increased by 128% (32 Incidents) compared to the previous year.

• The number of vandalism offences (Property damage) recorded in 2022 increased by 58% (52 Incidents) compared to the previous year.

Crime in Williamstown: An In-Depth Analysis

AU Crime Rate’s analysis of recent crime data from the Crime Statistics Agency (CSA) Victoria reveals that Williamstown’s crime rate is quite a bit higher than average regarding to most Australian suburbs, as it is ranked safer than only 37% of suburbs across the country, irrespective of population size.

Approximately 78% of Victoria suburbs have a lower crime rate compared to Williamstown. Therefore, Williamstown’s public safety metrics are generally considered low.

How risky is that? Living in Williamstown comes with a statistical risk of 1 in 15 of becoming a victim of crime, considering the total rate of crimes against the person and property. In contrast, the average chance of falling victim to crime in Victoria stands at 1 in 19.

To better understand Williamstown’s overall crime rate, it is essential to examine its performance in crimes against the person and property crimes separately. This approach can provide further insight into whether violent crimes, property crimes, or both, are the primary drivers of the general crime rate in Williamstown.

AU Crime Rate’s analysis of Williamstown crime statistics shows that there are 913 incidents against the person per 100,000 inhabitants in a standard year, compared to the Victoria average rate of 1247. As a result, the chances of becoming a victim of crimes such as homicide, assault, dangerous and negligent acts endangering people, robbery, stalking, harassment and threatening behaviour in Williamstown are 1 in 108.

Our analysis indicates that if you reside in Williamstown, your chances of falling victim to property crimes, including theft, burglary, arson, deception, bribery and damage to property, are 1 in 18, equivalent to a rate of 5313 per 100,000 residents. As a reference, the property crime rate for every 100,000 residents in Victoria is 3580.

Want to understand criminal offences in Victoria and make sense of crime data? Our easy-to-understand crime glossary provides definitions for Victoria’s common criminal offences. Check it out and get the inside scoop on crime in Victoria!

Williamstown Crime Rates by Offences Division

Williamstown Crimes Against the Person

These are violent crimes against people whether these are family violence or non-family violence. Basically, if someone does something to hurt or scare another person, it’s considered a crime against the person. This includes:

• Assault and related offences: There are different types of assault, like serious assault, which is when someone causes really serious injuries as a result of a physical attack, and assault on police, emergency services or other authorised officers, which is when someone attacks a cop or a paramedic or someone doing their job. There’s also common assault, which is like when someone threatens to punch you or makes you feel scared for your safety.
• Robbery: There are two types of robbery or mugging: aggravated and non-aggravated. Aggravated robbery is when someone uses a weapon like a knife or a firearm (armed robbery) or causes serious harm to the victim during the robbery, like hitting them with a bat or a gun. Non-aggravated robbery is when someone doesn’t use a weapon or cause serious harm during the robbery but still uses force or the threat of force to take something from the victim.
• Dangerous and negligent acts endangering people: These refer to behaviours or actions that put others at risk of harm or injury due to carelessness or recklessness. Examples of dangerous and negligent acts include driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, not properly securing a load on a vehicle that could fall and cause an accident, leaving hazardous materials unattended, and failing to maintain a property in a safe condition.
• Stalking, harassment and threatening behaviour: This represents harassing or threatening someone based on their race, skin colour, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or disability, in what’s known as hate crimes. It also includes insulting someone, cyberbullying, and cyberstalking.

My Chances of Becoming a Victim of a Crime Against the Person

Crimes Against the Person Comparison (Per 100,000 Residents)

Crimes Against the Person: Williamstown vs Victoria

It’s important to note that the crime rates for sexual offences and homicide are not included in the previously mentioned data for Williamstown. Here is Victoria’s total data for these offences can be used as a benchmark for comparison.

Williamstown Property and Deception Offences

These are crimes related to stealing or damaging property or deceiving someone for personal gain. Property crimes include:

• Theft: It can be committed in various forms such as shoplifting, stealing from a person’s home, or taking a vehicle without permission. Other examples include stealing a bicycle, snatching a purse, or taking items from an unattended bag.
• Burglary (unlawful entry): Aggravated and non-aggravated burglaries are examples of burglary. Aggravated burglary involves the use of weapons, threats, or violence during the break-in, while non-aggravated burglary does not involve such factors.
• Arson: Arson is a criminal act of intentionally setting fire to a property, building, or forest (bushfire)  without lawful or justifiable reason.
• Property damage: This refers to intentional or accidental harm caused to someone else’s property, such as vandalism, or graffiti.
• Deception: This is a broad category of offences that includes various examples. These include forgery and counterfeiting, deceptive business practices, professional malpractice and misrepresentation, and other similar offences. Additionally, it includes obtaining benefits by deception, possessing equipment to make a false instrument, and stating false information. All of these crimes involve intentionally deceiving others for personal gain or causing harm to others through fraudulent means.
• Bribery: Sneaky shortcut to get ahead by taking advantage of someone’s position or power.

My Chances of Becoming a Victim of Property and Deception Offences

Property and Deception Offences Comparison (Per 100,000 Residents)

Property and Deception Offences: Williamstown vs Victoria, Australia

Here is a breakdown of Williamstown crime rate and offences count for the major property and deception offences.

Drug Offences

Drug offences are illegal activities involving drugs like possession, trafficking, and manufacturing. It can involve both illicit and legal drugs like prescription medicines used improperly.

Drug Offences Comparison (Per 100,000 Residents)

Drug Offences: Williamstown vs Victoria

Public Order and Security Offences

Public order and security offences refer to crimes that threaten the safety and security of the community, such as disorderly conduct, possession of illegal weapons, public intoxication, and disturbing the peace. These offences can also include crimes that disrupt the functioning of society, like rioting, protesting without a permit, and obstructing traffic.

Public Order and Security Offences Comparison (Per 100,000 Residents)

Public Order and Security Offences: Williamstown vs Victoria

Williamstown Crimes per Square KM

What’s the most common crime in Williamstown?

According to the latest available data from the Crime Statistics Agency of Victoria (CSA), the most common type of crime in Williamstown is steal from a motor vehicle.

What is the crime rate in Williamstown?

The overall crime rate in Williamstown, as measured by the number of reported offences per 100,000 population was 7754 in the year ending June 2022.

However, it’s important to note that this is an aggregate figure that includes all types of crime, and some types of offences are more prevalent than others. Additionally, crime rates can vary by location, with some areas experiencing higher rates of certain types of crime than others.

Is Williamstown a safe place to live in?

Williamstown is safer than 37% of suburbs across Australia and the crime rates are quite a bit higher than average regarding to most Australian suburbs. Compared to Victoria suburbs, Williamstown is safer than 22% of other suburbs in the state which are considered low safety scores in Victoria.

Total Crime Stats of Williamstown

Note: This article doesn’t have detailed data for family violence, victims, female offenders, reoffending, sexual offences, stalking, and youth crime. For more information about these topics, check our resources page.

References

• Crime Statistics Agency (CSA) Victoria
• Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Census QuickStats for all persons
• Victoria Police