CRIME in the City of Maribyrnong dropped by 1.3 per cent in 2009, with significant decreases in home burglaries, robberies and car thefts.

The latest crime figures show a 29.1 per cent drop in thefts from motor vehicles, a 14.6 per cent decrease in car thefts, a 10.9 per cent decrease in home burglaries, a 10 per cent decrease in burglaries from other properties and a 9.8 per cent decrease in robberies.

“We have worked hard in the last year to build partnerships with community and across government to ensure that our strategy for a safer Maribyrnong is achieved,” Footscray Inspector Ian Geddes said.

On the flip side, assault rates have climbed by 4.7 per cent, triggered by an increased awareness in family violence and a new focus on occupational violence at Western Hospital.

Insp Geddes said Footscray Police had joined forces with Western Health to ensure all assaults against hospital staff were being reported.

Drug offences still reign supreme in the area, with a 7.3 per cent increase in drug-related arrests.

Drug statistics have been consistently on the rise in Footscray thanks to a series of covert and high-visibility police operations to wipe out drug trafficking in the municipality, especially around Footscray’s CBD.

Footscray Police’s CCTV van, which was given to the area in mid-2009, has also provided useful surveillance for police.

“Drugs are the prominent driver of property crime and so by causing significant disruption to the drug trade locally we have reduced the number of houses and commercial buildings being broken into,” Insp Geddes said.

He said an increased police presence in Footscray’s CBD was reducing crime and increasing perceptions of safety.