Despite the increase, Bendigo remained one of the safest regional cities in Victoria according to the Crime Statistics Agency’s 2015-16 report, released on Thursday.

Crime rates had remained steady from 2013 to 2015, but increased again in 2016, rising to 8617 offences per 100,000 people in Bendigo.

The figure had hovered near 7800 for three years.

Theft was almost double any other type of crime, and increased 35.1 per cent. There were 2769 thefts in Bendigo in 2015-16, compared to 2049 in 2014-15.

Arson increased 42.5 per cent, from 80 to 114, driven by an arson spree predominantly in Eaglehawk in January and February.

Burglaries were also on the rise, from 631 to 788.

An increased focus on CBD crime has boosted the rate of offending in central Bendigo. There were 133 drug offences in the CBD – an increase of 72.7 per cent.

There were 626 crimes against the person in central Bendigo, including assault, sexual offences, robbery and stalking. The figure was an increase of 55 per cent from the previous 12 months.

The homicide rate had one of the largest increases. There were two recorded homicides in each year from 2012 to 2015, then seven in 2016 – the equal-fourth highest number of any council area in the state.

Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said the rate fluctuated over time, but conceded the homicide squad had a busy year.

Bendigo’s crime rate might have increased in the last 12 months, but it remains one of the lowest among Victoria’s regional cities.

The crime rate was lower than Ballarat, Horsham, Shepparton, Mildura, Geelong, Wangaratta and Wodonga.

Of the major regional centres, only Warrnambool had a lower crime rate than Bendigo.

Central Goldfields Shire – which has Maryborough as its major centre – had the seventh highest crime rate in the state, only behind areas like Melbourne, Dandenong and Yarra.

The Crime Statistics Agency figures  showed many types of crimes had only increased marginally in Bendigo between 2015 and 2016.

Weapons offences rose from 276 to 314, and there were also twice as many robberies, with 29 recorded.

All types of drug offences had reduced, including a 42.1 per cent decrease in the number of drug cultivation and manufacture charges.

Drug use and possession was almost identical to the last financial year, with 355 offences in Bendigo in the 12 months to June.

There was also a drop in assaults in Bendigo, from 790 to 740, and fewer 16.5 per cent fewer deception charges.

Across the state, most focus was placed on the homicide rate which had placed Victoria as the murder capital of Australia.

Premier Daniel Andrews said family violence was a major contributor to the number of murders in the state, particularly of women and children.

He described the overall statistics as “challenging”.

Crime Statistics Agency chief statistician Fiona Dowsley said there appeared to be a drop in the rate of young offenders.

“Over the last year we have seen a four per cent drop in the number of offenders under 25, with the greatest change seen amongst 15 to 19 year old offenders which dropped by five per cent,” she said.