CRIME in the Wimmera has decreased 4.7 per cent in the past year.
Police statistics show criminal offences dropped from 4219 offences in 2006-07 to 4021 in 2007-08 in region two, division four.
The division is divided into two police service areas.
The Horsham police service area includes the Horsham, West Wimmera and Hindmarsh municipalities and the Northern Grampians police service area includes Northern Grampians, Yarriambiack and Ararat municipalities.
Crime in the Horsham area decreased 0.6 per cent, from 1947 offences in 2006-07 to 1935 in 2007-08.
Crime in the Northern Grampians area decreased 8.2 per cent, from 2272 offences in 2006-07 to 2086 in 2007-08.
Crime against the person has increased 5.1 per cent in the Horsham area but decreased 3.0 in the Northern Grampians area.
Superintendent John Hendrickson said crimes against the person were the worst type of crime.
"I personally don't like crimes against a person, or any victim-based crime where people have been broken into or people's property has been damaged," he said.
"Having been a police officer for a long time and a person who has been burgled twice, I know the effects."
Mr Hendrickson said drug arrests had increased in the division, particularly in the Horsham area, because of intelligence-led operations.
"The increase in drug arrests demonstrates a significant amount of work by our members and the single year clearance rate for drug offences is at a high of 97.2 and 99.5 per cent respectively," he said.
"The recent drug seizure in Horsham was the result of the police's hard work and the use of information from the public."
Sex, non-rape, offences, which include offences such as indecent assault, wilful and obscene exposure in public, incest, sexual penetration of a child and gross indecency, have increased by 24.3 per cent.
Mr Hendrickson said the increase could be attributed to a number of cases involving minors, as well as an increase in `sexting', which involves people sending explicit images of themselves to another person via mobile phone.
"Police have taken swift and affirmative action to all reported sex, non-rape, offences," he said.
"We have had a single year clearance rate of 91.6 per cent, which means there is a very high chance of being caught and dealt with.
"We have the highest clean- up rate in the region and one of the highest in the state, which is outstanding."
Mr Hendrickson said the biggest issue in the division was property damage, with 754 offences recorded in 2007-08.
Although the number of offences decreased 5.3 per cent it was the highest number of offences compared with any other crime.
Mr Hendrickson said police would be vigilant in charging offenders but needed the public's help.
"We really need the assistance of the public, especially in cases of thefts and burglary," he said.
"We target our operations and resources on the intelligence we've received."
Mr Hendrickson stressed people should call 000 to contact police.
"We recommend it for their safety and to ensure the closest unit will be contacted to attend," he said.
"Triple 0 is our communications centre, they will know if there is another unit travelling through or another unit close by."
He also reminded people to be vigilant in removing all valuables from their car before parking, especially in the back of utes, put locks on petrol caps to help prevent petrol stealing, and participate in a one-way screw-in program which helps prevent number plate thefts.
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