CRIME has risen across most of the North East, with some shires experiencing jumps of more than 25 per cent, new data reveals.
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In Wodonga over the same time, crime rose 11.6 per cent and was marginally down by 1.7 per cent in Wangaratta.
That equated to an extra 279 crimes in Wodonga for a total of 2692 and 30 fewer in Wangaratta to a net 1710.
Criminal damage (358) was the most common offence in Wodonga, ahead of breaching a family violence order (327) and stealing from a vehicle (307).
Member for Benambra and past Wodonga police officer Bill Tilley said the statistics also meant an 11 per cent increase in victims of crime.
"For Wodonga that has meant people's homes and businesses that have been damaged, cars broken into or cases of domestic violence," Mr Tilley said.
"It's important that new ideas and initiatives deployed by police are continually reviewed and assessed.
"For us those initiatives need to be tailor-made to meet the challenges we face in our community as opposed to policies driven by Melbourne."
In Indigo the 25.4 per cent leap translated to another 85 incidents to 420 overall with the most common offence family violence order breaches (69).
Offences were greatest at Beechworth (172) followed by Rutherglen (101), Chiltern (66), Barnawartha (43) and Wahgunyah (33).
Indigo mayor Jenny O'Connor said the level of family violence, which rose by 33 per cent in her shire and saw women victims in 122 of 147 incidents, was alarming.
"It's utterly unacceptable," Cr O'Connor said.
"There's no easy answers to this but I think that it's about respectful relationships starting from childhood."
Meanwhile, Victoria Police on Thursday announced officers at Shepparton would be trained to use semi-automatic rifles to tackle armed offenders and terrorists.
