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

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.

60-month trend of criminal incidents across 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.

Thinking of moving to Williamstown?

Experience the ease of moving with Muval, the ‘Uber for removals,’ backed by over 35,000 successful moves. Tap into Australia’s largest network of verified removalists nationwide. Compare prices & reviews, book, and move smoothly with Muval now!

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

DivisionNumber of CrimesCrime Rate (Per 100,000 Residents)
Crimes against the person131913
Property and deception offences7625313
Drug offences36251
Public order and security offences49342
Justice procedures offences100697
Other offences34237
Total11127754

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

1 in 108

In Williamstown

1 in 78

In Victoria

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

Violent crimes against the person in Williamstown vs Victoria in Australia

Crimes Against the Person: Williamstown vs Victoria

Williamstown population: 14341

Victoria population: 6503491

CrimesTotal Criminal IncidentsVIC Total Criminal IncidentsCrime Rate (per 100,000 residents)VIC Crime Rate (per 100,000 residents)
Assault and related offences8145391600689
Robbery12350736
Dangerous and negligent acts endangering people962936396
Stalking, harassment and threatening behaviour1913324132202

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.

CrimesVictoria Total Criminal incidentsVIC Crime Rate (Per 100,000 residents)
Homicide and related offences1983
Sexual offences13576206

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

1 in 18

In Williamstown

1 in 27

In Victoria

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

Property offences in Williamstown vs Victoria

Property and Deception Offences: Williamstown vs Victoria, Australia

Williamstown population: 14341

Victoria population: 6503491

CrimesTotal Criminal IncidentsVIC Total Criminal IncidentsCrime Rate (Per 100,000 Residents)VIC Crime Rate (Per 100,000 Residents)
Property damage14138352983582
Burglary/Break and enter6229621432449
Theft49613866834592103
Arson821245632
Deception5527275384414
Bribery0300.05

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

CrimesNo. of offencesRate
Motor vehicle theft57397
Steal from motor vehicle2291597
Steal from retail store64446
Aggravated burglary642
Non-aggravated burglary56390

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 in Williamstown vs VIC

Drug Offences: Williamstown vs Victoria

CrimesTotal Criminal IncidentsVIC Total Criminal IncidentsCrime Rate (Per 100,000 Residents)VIC Crime Rate (Per 100,000 Residents)
Drug use and possession3224069223365
Drug dealing and trafficking337342157
Cultivate or manufacture drugs11716726
Other drug offences049308

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 comparison chart

Public Order and Security Offences: Williamstown vs Victoria

CrimesTotal Criminal IncidentsVIC Total Criminal IncidentsCrime Rate (Per 100,000 Residents)VIC Crime Rate (Per 100,000 Residents)
Public nuisance offences939186359
Disorderly and offensive conduct189174126139
Public security offences037506
Weapons and explosives offences2214941153227

Williamstown Crimes per Square KM

Crimes per square km in Williamstown vs VIC

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

Offence DivisionOffence SubdivisionOffence GroupYear (2021)Year (2022)
A Crimes against the personA20 Assault and related offencesFamily violence serious assault2312
A Crimes against the personA20 Assault and related offencesNon-Family violence serious assault1816
A Crimes against the personA20 Assault and related offencesFamily violence common assault1628
A Crimes against the personA20 Assault and related offencesNon-family violence common assault1723
A Crimes against the personA20 Assault and related offencesA22 Assault police, emergency services or other authorised officer77
A Crimes against the personA50 RobberyA51 Aggravated robbery70
A Crimes against the personA50 RobberyA52 Non-aggravated robbery01
A Crimes against the personA70 Stalking, harassment and threatening behaviourFamily violence stalking23
A Crimes against the personA70 Stalking, harassment and threatening behaviourNon-Family violence stalking12
A Crimes against the personA70 Stalking, harassment and threatening behaviourFamily violence threatening behaviour67
A Crimes against the personA70 Stalking, harassment and threatening behaviourNon-Family violence threatening behaviour21
A Crimes against the personA70 Stalking, harassment and threatening behaviourFamily violence harassment and private nuisance15
A Crimes against the personA70 Stalking, harassment and threatening behaviourNon-Family harassment and private nuisance31
A Crimes against the personA80 Dangerous and negligent acts endangering peopleA81 Dangerous driving11
A Crimes against the personA80 Dangerous and negligent acts endangering peopleA82 Neglect or ill treatment of people00
A Crimes against the personA80 Dangerous and negligent acts endangering peopleA83 Throw or discharge object endangering people23
A Crimes against the personA80 Dangerous and negligent acts endangering peopleA89 Other dangerous or negligent acts endangering people45
B Property and deception offencesB10 ArsonB11 Cause damage by fire48
B Property and deception offencesB10 ArsonB12 Cause a bushfire00
B Property and deception offencesB10 ArsonB19 Other fire related offences00
B Property and deception offencesB20 Property damageB21 Criminal damage72128
B Property and deception offencesB20 Property damageB22 Graffiti1412
B Property and deception offencesB20 Property damageB29 Other property damage offences31
B Property and deception offencesB30 Burglary/Break and enterB31 Aggravated burglaryn.a.6
B Property and deception offencesB30 Burglary/Break and enterB32 Non-aggravated burglaryn.a.56
B Property and deception offencesB40 TheftB41 Motor vehicle theft2557
B Property and deception offencesB40 TheftB42 Steal from a motor vehiclen.a.229
B Property and deception offencesB40 TheftB43 Steal from a retail store7064
B Property and deception offencesB40 TheftB44 Theft of a bicycle3832
B Property and deception offencesB40 TheftB45 Receiving or handling stolen goods2033
B Property and deception offencesB40 TheftB46 Fare evasion00
B Property and deception offencesB40 TheftB49 Other theft6481
B Property and deception offencesB50 DeceptionB51 Forgery and counterfeiting39
B Property and deception offencesB50 DeceptionB52 Possess equipment to make false instrument00
B Property and deception offencesB50 DeceptionB53 Obtain benefit by deception4139
B Property and deception offencesB50 DeceptionB54 State false information33
B Property and deception offencesB50 DeceptionB55 Deceptive business practices00
B Property and deception offencesB50 DeceptionB56 Professional malpractice and misrepresentation11
B Property and deception offencesB50 DeceptionB59 Other deception offences43
B Property and deception offencesB60 BriberyB61 Bribery of officials00
C Drug offencesC10 Drug dealing and traffickingC11 Drug dealing00
C Drug offencesC10 Drug dealing and traffickingC12 Drug trafficking33
C Drug offencesC20 Cultivate or manufacture drugsC21 Cultivate drugs11
C Drug offencesC20 Cultivate or manufacture drugsC22 Manufacture drugs00
C Drug offencesC20 Cultivate or manufacture drugsC23 Possess drug manufacturing equipment or precursor00
C Drug offencesC30 Drug use and possessionC31 Drug use10
C Drug offencesC30 Drug use and possessionC32 Drug possession2932
C Drug offencesC90 Other drug offencesC99 Other drug offences00
D Public order and security offencesD10 Weapons and explosives offencesD11 Firearms offences50
D Public order and security offencesD10 Weapons and explosives offencesD12 Prohibited and controlled weapons offences2122
D Public order and security offencesD10 Weapons and explosives offencesD13 Explosives offences20
D Public order and security offencesD20 Disorderly and offensive conductD21 Riot and affray50
D Public order and security offencesD20 Disorderly and offensive conductD22 Drunk and disorderly in public65
D Public order and security offencesD20 Disorderly and offensive conductD23 Offensive conduct311
D Public order and security offencesD20 Disorderly and offensive conductD24 Offensive language21
D Public order and security offencesD20 Disorderly and offensive conductD25 Criminal intent21
D Public order and security offencesD20 Disorderly and offensive conductD26 Disorderly conduct10
D Public order and security offencesD30 Public nuisance offencesD31 Privacy offences00
D Public order and security offencesD30 Public nuisance offencesD32 Hoaxes10
D Public order and security offencesD30 Public nuisance offencesD33 Begging10
D Public order and security offencesD30 Public nuisance offencesD34 Defamation and libeln.a.0
D Public order and security offencesD30 Public nuisance offencesD35 Improper movement on public or private space149
D Public order and security offencesD30 Public nuisance offencesD36 Other public nuisance offences00
D Public order and security offencesD40 Public security offencesD41 Immigration offences00
D Public order and security offencesD40 Public security offencesD43 Hacking00
D Public order and security offencesD40 Public security offencesD44 Terrorism offences00
D Public order and security offencesD40 Public security offencesD49 Other public security offences00
E Justice procedures offencesE10 Justice proceduresE11 Escape custodyn.a.0
E Justice procedures offencesE10 Justice proceduresE12 Fail to appear00
E Justice procedures offencesE10 Justice proceduresE13 Resist or hinder officer1714
E Justice procedures offencesE10 Justice proceduresE14 Pervert the course of justice or commit perjury00
E Justice procedures offencesE10 Justice proceduresE15 Prison regulation offences00
E Justice procedures offencesE10 Justice proceduresE19 Other justice procedures offences20
E Justice procedures offencesE20 Breaches of ordersE21 Breach family violence order8765
E Justice procedures offencesE20 Breaches of ordersE22 Breach intervention order1110
E Justice procedures offencesE20 Breaches of ordersE23 Breach bail conditions124
E Justice procedures offencesE20 Breaches of ordersE29 Breach of other orders47
F Other offencesF10 Regulatory driving offencesF11 Drink drivingn.a.0
F Other offencesF10 Regulatory driving offencesF12 Drug driving0n.a.
F Other offencesF10 Regulatory driving offencesF15 Licensing offencesn.a.0
F Other offencesF10 Regulatory driving offencesF19 Other regulatory driving offences01
F Other offencesF20 Transport regulation offencesF21 Public transport00
F Other offencesF20 Transport regulation offencesF22 Aviation regulations offences00
F Other offencesF20 Transport regulation offencesF23 Maritime regulations offences101
F Other offencesF20 Transport regulation offencesF24 Pedestrian offences00
F Other offencesF20 Transport regulation offencesF29 Other transport regulation offences00
F Other offencesF30 Other government regulatory offencesF31 Betting and gaming offences00
F Other offencesF30 Other government regulatory offencesF32 Commercial regulation offences00
F Other offencesF30 Other government regulatory offencesF33 Liquor and tobacco licensing offences00
F Other offencesF30 Other government regulatory offencesF34 Pornography and censorship offences00
F Other offencesF30 Other government regulatory offencesF36 Prostitution offences00
F Other offencesF30 Other government regulatory offencesF39 Other government regulatory offences00
F Other offencesF90 Miscellaneous offencesF91 Environmental offences00
F Other offencesF90 Miscellaneous offencesF92 Public health and safety offences8932
F Other offencesF90 Miscellaneous offencesF93 Cruelty to animals00
F Other offencesF90 Miscellaneous offencesF94 Dangerous substance offences00
F Other offencesF90 Miscellaneous offencesF99 Other miscellaneous offences20

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

Greater Capital City Statistical Area

Greater Melbourne

State

Victoria