Cost of living and family violence help push Victoria crime rate to highest level in almost a decade

Small group of hardened young offenders' also added to increase according to new data released before Allan government's Tough Bail Bill' goes before parliament

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Crime across Victoria is now at its highest level in almost a decade with cost-of-living pressures, family violence and a small group of young repeat offenders singled out as contributing factors, placing further pressure on the embattled Allan government.

As Labor's controversial tough" bail laws were debated in parliament on Thursday, the Crime Statistics Agency released data showing 605,640 criminal offences were recorded in Victoria in 2014 - a 15.7% increase from the previous year.

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