From App My State web site, “App My State is a competition to inspire Victorians to create web and mobile applications for Victorians. Entrants will be competing for $100,000 in prizes.” The gist of the competition is that the government has released some data, you go create something with it.

So here’s a quick mock-up of my idea (guaranteed not going to win any prize):

http://www.isvictoriamoreviolentthanlastyear.com.au ? YES

As a resident of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, I am greatly concerned with the increase of violence in the recent years. Gone are the days when people could feel safe traveling on public transport at night. Gone are the days when I could safely walk by myself on the city streets at 4am on a weekend.

Is it the government’s fault? No, even though I think that the law could be tougher, I still believe that the problem is with the people. Once I was on the train, I saw a group of youngsters arguing with an old guy. The youngsters got off the train at Caulfield station, but they kept shouting profanities at the old guy still inside the train. And when the train started moving, one of the youngsters suddenly kicked the train window right next to where the old guy sat. Is it the lack of respect? Is it the decline in morality standard?

Not many people know this, but I myself was once held at knifepoint. I fell asleep on the tram after a long tiring day, and I woke up with a knife pressed on my neck. There were two of them, and they got away with my wallet. An old guy, whom I later knew as Laurie, tried to help me that night (thank you Laurie from East Burwood). But the second robber held the knife against Laurie. To cut the story short, the police contacted me the next day, they caught both guys. Apparently I was the first victim that night, the fourth one wasn’t so lucky and was stabbed on the neck.

Rantings aside, the site itself could easily be built by comparing last year and this year’s crime statistic. Though unfortunately the result can be cached for at least the next 5 years. Melbourne is getting more violent each year, and there’s no sign that the situation will improve for the better.

Update (25/04/2010):

There was a stabbing incident at Clayton Station five days ago, at about 8.15am in the morning. That’s my station, I take the train to and from work every day, and I happened to see the dead body (already covered) later on that day after the commotion was over. Do I feel less safe? Hell yes. Will I vote in the upcoming election based on which party has better plan to improve public safety? Absolutely! More police patrolling the streets, more security officers on the trains, please. There’s no point in having a strong economy when one doesn’t feel safe in one’s own neighbourhood.

There was also a bashing incident the night before, at the corner of Swanston St and Collins St, which ironically was about a block away from a police station.

Bonus Update:

I just found out that Crime Stoppers Victoria has a page called Crime of the Week, yep, there is not a single week without a crime being committed.