VIOLENT assaults have soared to alarming levels across Wyndham over the last year.

The latest Victoria Police statistics released last Thursday show crime rose 3.6 per cent, with vandalism and residential burglaries also climbing in the 12 months from September 2008.

But assaults in the municipality increased by a staggering 55 per cent from 482 incidences to 747, while robberies surged 18.3 per cent.

The figures came as White Ribbon Day was celebrated to combat violence against women.

The burgeoning municipality has some of the highest domestic violence rates in the state.

There were 744 incidents, with 209 resulting in applications for intervention orders in the last financial year.

Residential burglary spiked 8 per cent and property damage 1.4 per cent.

Werribee Inspector Bill Weatherly said members would pay special attention to the emerging crime issues through targeted operations.

Drug offences dropped 8.6 per cent, other burglaries decreased 24 per cent, theft from motor vehicles fell 23.3 per cent and theft of motor vehicles slid 1 per cent.

Insp Weatherly said regular policing around hot spots and railway stations had contributed to these reductions.

“Police in the Wyndham Police Service Area (PSA) have worked tirelessly to keep crime on a downward trend,” he said.

“Operation WAG, an ongoing operation involving increased police presence during peak periods continues to impact positively on the Wyndham PSA.”

Insp Weatherly said there was a significant jump in road fatalities, to seven.

“Increased traffic and uniform patrols, especially around black spot areas will continue to operate and hopefully this figure will decrease,” he said.

“Pro-active policing within local secondary schools around hoon driving has proven a success with more than 3000 students within the Wyndham area attending our hoon driving seminars.”

He urged everyone in the Wyndham area to drive carefully over the Christmas period to avoid becoming another statistic.

“Police will continue to strive towards making Wyndham a safer place to live,” Insp Weatherly said.