New figures from the Crime Statistics Agency show police recorded 7159.6 criminal incidents per 100,000 people in the Greater Bendigo area last year, compared to 6667.2 the previous year.

Criminal incidents are events that can involve multiple individual offences.

Local crime news: Man charged over more than 20 thefts in Bendigo, Ballarat

Greater Bendigo's rate of criminal incidents was also higher than the Victorian average

In total, there were 11,448 individual offences recorded in the Greater Bendigo area last year, an increase of almost 1000 on 2018.

Breaches of family violence orders were the most common type of offence, followed by 'other theft', criminal damage, stealing from a motor vehicle, and stealing from a retail store.

Story continues below graph

There were increases in each of those offence types except stealing from a store, which saw a drop from 2018.

The number of property and deception offences, including theft, burglary and arson, went up by 18.6 per cent between 2018 and 2019.

But crimes against the person overall decreased by 6.4 per cent, despite an increase in assaults.

Local crime news: Thief jailed after stealing $20,000 stamp collection

The number of drug offences grew, particularly trafficking and cultivating or manufacturing.

Dangerous driving offences fell to a five-year low, with a 28.3 per cent decrease from 2018 to 2019.

Police made an arrest or issued a summons in relation to 52.4 per cent of offences last year, while 33.8 per cent were considered unsolved.

The number of alleged offenders processed by police grew 12.2 per cent,; this included arrests, summons and penalty notices.

Mount Alexander Shire saw significant increases in the number and rate of both criminal incidents and offences: the number of criminal incidents jumped by 32.1 per cent from 2018 to 2019, while the rate rose from 3541 per 100,000 people to 4647.3.

Story continues below graph

There was a 39.1 per cent increase in the number of individual offences, although Mount Alexander's crime rates are still below the state average.

The most common offences there were 'other theft', obtaining benefit by deception, breaching a family violence order, criminal damage and sexual offences, all of which increased between 2018 and last year.

Meanwhile, the number and rate of criminal incidents fell in Central Goldfields Shire, although there were more individual offences recorded.

Loddon Shire's rates of criminal incidents and offences fell, but Macedon Ranges Shire saw its rates rise.

Overall, Victoria's crime rate increased by 2.6 per cent.

Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Wendy Steendam said several factors contributed to this, including the state's growing population, "more police on the streets than ever before", and the introduction of the police assistance line and online reporting.

"However, make no mistake, we are concerned with any rise in crime, particularly high-harm, high-impact crime," Deputy Commissioner Steendam said.

She said theft, breaches of orders and drug possession had seen the highest increases, but the latter two offences were considered "positive policing efforts".

Deputy Commissioner Steendam said it was disturbing to see the increase in breaches of orders and family violence incidents, but it also showed increased public confidence in reporting to police.

She said Victoria Police had changed its approach to investigating connected crimes, with one team of officers to investigate a string of linked offences regardless of whether they take place in different areas and regions.

Throughout the state police were conducting regular bail compliance checks, Deputy Commissioner Steendam said.