A council area in Melbourne’s outer south-east has emerged as the epicenter of school-based violence in Victoria, recording a significant number of assaults and sexual offences on campuses over the past year. The City of Casey, which includes suburbs such as Cranbourne, Narre Warren, and Berwick, reported nearly 400 crimes at educational facilities from October 2024 to September 2025, according to data from the Crime Statistics Agency.
The area recorded the highest number of assaults on school grounds among local government areas, with 83 incidents. Additionally, 61 sexual offences were reported during the same period. Other prevalent crimes included 71 thefts and 69 burglaries.
Statewide Crime Patterns in Educational Facilities
Other districts with notable school-based crime rates include the cities of Wyndham, Hume, Monash, and Melbourne. The City of Melbourne reported 614 offences, the highest in the state, with theft accounting for 380 incidents and burglaries for 97. These figures, derived from Victoria Police data, are updated 18 days after each reporting period and may be revised.
Swinburne University’s Joel McGregor, a senior lecturer in criminology, noted that the data reflects a trend of violent offences occurring in outer suburban areas, which are experiencing rapid population growth. This growth often results in fewer youth services per capita.
“There’s often limited transport, or services for young people to access in these areas, and there’s many times more proactive policing and reporting,” McGregor explained.
Understanding the Nature of School Crimes
A spokesperson for Victoria Police highlighted that the most common offences at schools were theft, burglaries, and common assaults, with most occurring outside school hours. The spokesperson also noted that the most frequent sex offences at schools involved non-contact offences, such as the unauthorized sharing of explicit images or videos.
“A common theme is the unauthorised sharing of explicit images or videos,” the spokesperson said.
McGregor emphasized that sexual offences at schools are often non-contact and technology-focused. Despite age restrictions on social media apps, children under 16 still use phones to communicate, complicating the narrative around predatory violence at schools.
“It really does challenge these sensational narratives around predatory violence at schools when you’re thinking about these sexual offences that are non-contact offending,” McGregor stated.
Addressing the Root Causes of School Crime
Police officers regularly visit schools across the state to enhance safety, educate about the law, and develop strategies to deter youth crime. This includes informing students and staff about the consequences of non-consensual image sharing and where to seek help if victimized.
McGregor criticized zero-tolerance policies, arguing they are ineffective in addressing youth crime. He suggested that such policies increase disengagement and disproportionately impact disadvantaged youth, potentially escalating harm instead of reducing it.
“Things that don’t really work are zero-tolerance policies, more policing, suspensions, a moral panic; framing things like schools are unsafe,” McGregor said. “Research tells us that these increase disengagement and disproportionately affect disadvantaged young people, which can actually escalate harm rather than reduce it.”
In Wyndham City, located in Melbourne’s west, 315 crimes were recorded in educational facilities over the year to September. Theft was the most common crime, with 103 incidents, followed by 54 assaults, the second-highest in the state. Hume, including Broadmeadows, Craigieburn, and Roxburgh Park, recorded 226 school-related crimes, with 53 assaults and 19 sex offences. Theft and property damage were also common, with 55 and 26 incidents respectively.
The City of Melbourne, encompassing the CBD, Docklands, Carlton, North Melbourne, and Southbank, reported the highest overall school crime rate, highlighting the widespread nature of the issue across different districts.
As Melbourne’s growth corridor continues to expand, addressing the root causes of school-based crime remains critical. This includes enhancing youth services, improving transport and access to facilities, and fostering community engagement to create safer educational environments.
