The Victorian Opposition has flagged changes to the state’s sentencing regime as crime shapes up to be a key battleground issue in the lead up to next year’s election.

The Allan Labor government has increasingly come under fire for failing to limit Victoria’s soaring crime rates, with figures released on Thursday showing crime at a 20-year high .

An analysis by the Liberal and National parties found there are now 166,000 more crimes committed a year compared to when Labor took office in 2014.

This includes a 40 per cent increase in youth crime, a 218 per cent increase in aggravated burglaries, and a 96 per cent increase in motor vehicle theft.

According to the state Opposition, these increases are a result of Labor’s weakening of bail laws, its $50 million cut to the police budget, a

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