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22 MARCH, 2023
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Crime up in Hobsons Bay By Matthew Sims Recorded criminal offences increased by two per cent across Hobsons Bay in the year to December 2022, according to new Crime Statistics Agency [CSA] data. The data showed there were 5945 recorded offences during January 1 to December 31, 2022 in Hobsons Bay, which was a slight jump compared to the 5829 recorded offences during the previous 12 months. Criminal offences in Newport jumped by 14.5 per cent in 2022, with theft offences in Newport rising by 21.7 per cent. In Laverton, the data reflected there were 691 recorded offences, which was a 41.3 per cent jump, with drug use and possession offences more than tripling to 56 offences. However, there were a number of local reductions in recorded offences, including theft offences dropping by 7.5 per cent in Altona Meadows and robbery offences dropping by 32 per cent across Hobsons Bay. In Maribyrnong, the data reflected a 0.9 per cent increase in recorded criminal offences, with 8695 offences recorded in 2022. Footscray’s data showed an 23.3 per cent increase in the number of drug use and possession offences recorded, while theft offences fell by 7.4 per cent to 977 recorded offences. In Braybrook, there was a 20.5 per cent reduction in theft offences, while drug use and possession offences increased by 22.1 per cent to 94 offences. Yarraville recorded a five-fold increase in drug use and possession offences in 2022, from 11 to 55 offences recorded. A Victoria Police spokesperson said it was “very pleasing” that overall crime was below pre-pandemic levels across Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay despite increasing slightly compared to 2021 figures. “There’s been some really encouraging results in the local community, with fewer robberies and fewer burglaries and break-ins particularly when looking at pre-pandemic levels,” the spokesperson said. “Car theft and home burglaries will continue to be a focus for police in Hobsons Bay and Maribyrnong, and we will continue to have police out and about to prevent and respond to this offending.”
Finnishing touches for festival The culture of the world’s happiest country is coming to Altona. The Australasian Federation of Finnish Societies and Clubs will welcome Finns and the wider community to be part of the 55th Suomipäivät or Finnish Festival from Friday, April 7 to Sunday, April 9. Finnish Society of Melbourne festival committee chair Tuire Karaharju-Huisman said they are “very excited” to host a range of events, food and drink, with an expected attendance of about 300 people across a number of venues. “We are the largest Finnish society in Australia,” she said. The event will include cultural performances, dancing workshops, sports workshops including mölkky and pesäpallo or Finnish baseball, a dinner dance, hobby horse racing and a wife carrying competition. Dr Karaharju-Huisman said the event aims to celebrate Finnish culture, which is exemplified by the concept of ‘sisu’, demonstrating determination, tenacity of purpose, grit, bravery and resilience. Details: fsm.org.au/finnfest
Jeffery McDougall and Tuire Karaharju-Huisman played a game of mölkky ahead of the 55th Finnish Festival in Altona. (Joe Mastroianni) 322861_02
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