Six victims a day in Melbourne CBD

About six people a day are attacked in Melbourne's CBD, police data reveals.

An assault occurs every five hours, a sex crime every two days and a robbery three times a week, Fairfax Media reports.

A violent death or attempted murder happens every three months.

The statistics were derived from five years of police data but authorities say vigorous policing, combined with tough new laws, has recently led to a drop in violent crime in the area.

"I think we're starting to get it right," Assistant Commissioner Shane Patton told Fairfax.

"There's no single silver bullet in these matters, it's a cumulative effect of a number of programs and operations.

"We went through a very turbulent period but we're now at a really good stage where we are getting the balance right."

About 10,670 violent crimes were committed in the CBD over the past five years.

University of Melbourne School of Population and Global Health Professor Rob Moodie said the CBD had become unsafe because of the "over-aggressive deregulation of the whole liquor industry".