Model Bec Judd took to Instagram to go on a rant about the increasing occurrence of crime despite living in one of Victoria’s safest areas.
Model Rebecca Judd has once again taken to social media to claim that her suburb, Brighton, in Melbourne’s southeast, is in the grip of a crime wave. This comes after another resident of Brighton reported that his car was stolen, with his cavoodle, Moe, still inside.
Judd cited an allegation of another attempted car theft and claimed that “nothing was being done about rapes, bashings and home invasions at the hands of gangs roaming wealthy Bayside”. She said she personally knew two women who had experienced home invasions in Brighton while they were at home.
However, according to Victoria’s Crime Statistics Agency, Bayside Council recorded 3688 criminal incidents in the year to September 2022, up 7.5% from the previous year. But the council area still has one of the lowest crime rates in Melbourne, with 3561 incidents per 100,000 people. Within Bayside, Brighton had the most criminal incidents at 857 in the year, with theft from a motor vehicle being the top offense at 721 incidents.
Last year, Judd complained that she felt “unsafe” in her neighborhood, and the Victorian Government didn’t “seem to care”. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews responded by saying that he was sorry she felt that way, but that the data would tell a different story.
Judd’s claims seem to have no root in the reality of her area, as last year, in 2022, she made similar claims despite crime dropping by a whopping 18.8% over the previous year. Many of the crimes in her area were carried out by teenagers or children.
While crime from 2022 to 2023 is up in Bayside, it is important to note that Brighton remains one of the safest suburbs in Melbourne. It is understandable that Judd may feel concerned about her safety and the safety of her community. However, it is important to rely on accurate data and not rely solely on anecdotal evidence or perceptions of crime.
It is also important to acknowledge that crime is a complex issue that requires a multi-faceted approach. This includes addressing root causes such as poverty, unemployment, and social inequality.
