But the bad news is that gentrification has not moved trendy inner suburbs from the top of the list of Melbourne's most crime-affected places.

Almost all the city's most dangerous local government areas are places where home buyers pay dearly for the privilege.

Aside from the central business district, where the volume of daily visitors fuels high crime rates, the most crime-plagued district last year was the City of Yarra.

Its nearly 15,000 crimes for every 100,000 residents means that despite claims that gentrification has robbed suburbs such as Fitzroy, Collingwood and Richmond of their edgy character, they remain among the most dangerous spots.

Next was Maribyrnong, where 12,132 crimes for every 100,000 people gave it the second-highest crime rate outside the CBD.

Median house prices in suburbs such as Yarraville and Footscray might have soared 25 per cent to an average of about $500,000 in the past three years, but the crime rate also grew - by 2.1 per cent in the same period.

Third was Port Phillip at 10,723 per 100,000, followed by Greater Dandenong - the only outer-suburban location near the top - with 10,192. Stonnington had 9740, largely due to Chapel Street nightspots.

Inspector Ian Geddes of Maribyrnong police said gentrification had created new problems for police, including social exclusion faced by traditional residents priced out of renting in the area.

But while a new type of resident had moved there for its inner-city edginess, Inspector Geddes said they did not want it too raw. ''We have an issue around the expectation of amenity,'' he said.

''In the past there may have been behaviours … that were accepted.

''But now with that changed population that behaviour becomes undesirable. I'm talking about public drinking and late-night noise.''

He said drugs, particularly around Footscray railway station, were behind most crime in the area and tackling that had discouraged other crime.

A nearly 10 per cent increase in drug-offence detection in Maribyrnong last year led to a big fall in burglaries, and in thefts from cars.

Yarra's Inspector Mick Beattie said the city's crime rate had dropped in recent years and he was confident that this would continue as the area changed.

But he said policing the area, which after the City of Melbourne tops the list for assault and car break-ins, provided fascinating contrasts. ''You can walk from the beautiful streets with million-dollar houses … to large ministry of housing estates.''

The City of Manningham, in Melbourne's leafy north-east and including Bulleen, Templestowe and Warrandyte, was the safest metropolitan local government area with 2946.2 crimes reported for every 100,000 residents.

Next were the Shire of Nillumbik and the Yarra Ranges.

Despite overall crime rates dropping 5.7 per cent statewide, the number of assaults in each of the areas with the highest assault rate has soared.

State Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu said in the six years to 2008 police patrol hours had dropped at least 24 per cent in each of the five worst local government areas.

But the state government said it had delivered more than 1400 extra police to Victorians.

CRIME CITY
Crimes per 100,000 population in 2009 (not including CBD)

Worst
1. Yarra 14,698.66
2. Maribyrnong: 12,123.2
3. Port Phillip: 10,723.0
4. Greater Dandenong: 10,192.0
5. Stonnington: 9739.9

Best
1. Manningham: 2946.2
2. Shire of Nillumbik: 3043.3
3. Yarra Ranges: 3877.2
4. Bayside: 4150.4
5. Boorondarra: 4193.6
Assault
1. Yarra: 1132.2
2. Greater Dandenong: 1071.4
3. Port Phillip: 1002.6
4. Frankston: 882.1
5. Cardinia: 872.3
 
Robbery
1. Maribyrnong: 230.6
2. Yarra: 196.3
 
3. Port Phillip: 141.9
4. Brimbank: 128.1
5. Moreland: 107.6
 
Burglary (Residential)
1. Maribyrnong: 1049.8
2. Yarra: 1009.1
3. Darebin: 910.7
4. Melton: 906.3
5. Brimbank: 863.0
 
Car break-ins
 
1. Yarra: 2439.7
2. Port Phillip: 1729.0
3. Stonnington: 1576.1
4. Maribyrnong: 1430.7
5. Frankston: 1278.2