the squeeze on crime Children’s Court sentences, 2010-2015 In recent years, declines in youth offending have been observed in Victoria. Figures from the Department of Human Services show a 43 per cent reduction in the number of children appearing in Victorian courts 2010-2015. Although there was an increase in number of charges per case, fewer offenders were being sentenced from 2011. The most common category of offending is against property, with 50 per cent of all charges 2010-2015. The most common sentence in 2015 was a good behaviour bond (35.1 per cent) and probation (20.7 per cent). Detention was less common: youth justice centre orders (3.1 per cent) and youth residential centre orders (0.2 per cent). Data sources: Court Services Victoria
young offenders walk free too easily. The mothers of some offenders are said to be torn between their natural inclinations to harbour their sons and a growing realisation that they must be brought to justice. “We keep arresting them and taking them before the courts but it is up to the judiciary to take the next step,” the policeman said. “If they were adults they would be going straight to jail.”
Crime crackdown: Shadow Taskforce police patrol Frankston last month as part of an operation to get tough on offenders. Picture: Gary Sissons
The policeman said one boy, who does not go to school, would typically “go joyriding all day and give the finger to security cameras at servos” because, by their previous leniency, the courts have shown him there are no consequences for his poor behaviour. Like many youngsters of his ilk,
he has revelled in the protection afforded by layers of opportunity for rehabilitation without his freedom being jeopardised. But the “sensationalised media narrative on complex social issues – such as youth offending – invariably leads to short-term problem solving, and is counterproductive”, according to Legal Aid’s Helen Fatouros. “Characterising young offenders as thugs who are inherently bad risks the adoption of a simplistic get-tough approach,” she said. “It can lead to life-long stigmatisation, increased re-offending and the further risk of minority suburban youth becoming entrenched in crime well into adulthood. “Rather than responding with unnecessary, punitive and reactive changes to the law, we should
be aiming for long-term outcomes, such as reduced re-offending and strong inclusive communities that enable equal opportunity for prosperity.” Ms Fatouros agreed youth crime rates had “fallen significantly”. “Over the past five years, there has been a 42 per cent decrease in the number of youth offenders aged 10-17 years,” she said. “However, there are pockets of increasingly serious offending, and a small number of youths are responsible for large proportion of the overall offending. “We need to focus our interventions more intensively on these more serious repeat young offenders, but we must do it in a way that maximises their chances for rehabilitation by breaking their connection to crime and negative peer groups.”
Crime spree shuts down college A FRANKSTON man was allegedly involved in a crime spree over five suburbs on Thursday which forced Wantirna College into lock-down. He is among four people charged by Eastern Region Crime Squad detectives following alleged offences at Mitcham, Blackburn, Park Orchards, Officer and Clayton. Operation Cosmas detectives allege three victims were robbed in Arnott St, Clayton, about 12.20am. A Ford sedan was later allegedly stolen from a house in Fairwood Rise, Officer, during an alleged aggravated burglary, 6.30am. Police allege the offenders committed aggravated burglaries at Alva Av, Park Orchards, 7.55am, and Almondsbury Ct, Blackburn, 9.50am. The men are alleged to have committed another burglary at Creek Rd, Mitcham, 9am. Box Hill Embona detectives arrested three 18-year-olds, one from Frankston and the others from Pakenham and Dandenong North, and a Springvale South boy, 16, on Thursday afternoon. Detective Acting Sergeant Warren Atkinson, of Box Hill Embona, said they appeared at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday and were further remanded to appear at a later date, on charges of kidnapping, aggravated burglary, false imprisonment, robbery and other offences. A 16-year-old Springvale South boy has been further remanded to appear at a children’s court at a later date on the same charges. Police say they have escalated their response to aggravated burglaries and carjackings across the state through Operation Cosmas. Since the operation began there have been more than 120 arrests. Stephen Taylor
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8 August 2016
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