Crime Statistics Agency numbers show there were 11,453 offences recorded by police in Ballarat’s local government area in the 12 months to March 31, 2018, down from 11,907 offences in the same time period last year.

The release of the data showing a slight downturn in crime comes as Ballarat-based Liberal politicians continue to turn the blowtorch on the Andrews government over law and order in the lead up to November’s state election.

The rate of offences has also fallen in Ballarat, which measures the number of crimes against the city’s growing population.

The were 10,660 recorded offences per 100,000 people this year compared to 11,304 last year.

Liberal MP Joshua Morris said crime had increased in Ballarat since Premier Daniel Andrews was elected in November, 2014.

“Under Daniel Andrews and Labor, we have more crime and fewer police on the beat keeping our community safe,” he said.

Victoria Police previously told The Courier it disagreed with the argument 18 police had been removed from the city.

There were 10,136 offences recorded per 100,000 people in the 12 months to March, 2015 – the year in which Premier Andrews won office.

Following this, Ballarat’s crime rate climbed and reached a peak in 2016 but has decreased since then.

Meanwhile, the latest numbers showed overall crime dropped by nearly 10 per cent statewide.

Recorded offences per 100,000 fell from 8585 to 7773, or by 9.5 per cent, between April, 2017, and March this year.

Police Minister Lisa Neville said the figures reflected an overall decrease in high-volume and high-harm crime, even though recorded sexual offences jumped by nearly 12 per cent.

- with AAP

More to come.