Underworld crime 'price list' a terrifying sign, ex-cop says

The discovery of an online "menu" offering price tags on crimes-for-hire ranging from arson to kidnapping to torture is a terrifying sign of the times, a former detective said.

Initially reported in the Daily Telegraph, NSW Police discovered the menu in an underworld Telegam chat.

Prices started from as little as $1000 for assault, with up to $10,000 charged for burning down a house.

READ MORE: Remains on Queensland farm belong to man who vanished in 2018

"We've got increasingly numbers of vulnerable, disenfranchised youth and young people who are just ripe and ready for radicalisation," former detective and current high school teacher Luke Taylor told Today.

"And we associate that word with terrorism, but being radical is just taking a position that's against political, legal norms."

Taylor said the evolving "gig economy" structure of organised crime had been a big problem in the UK and Europe.

READ MORE: Two seriously injured in light plane crash south of Brisbane

"And the problem with this gig economy, when you're hiring out your services, there's a lot of collateral damage," he said.

"It's like a quality of service when you have the lowest bidder for a contract."

Taylor said the number of youths willing to take part was growing.

READ MORE: UN calls on Australia to do better on human rights

"And I'm seeing it across schools, and I work right across NSW and Australia," he said.

"And there is a complete disconnect between risk and reward, and there's such a significant number of youth who've got such low aspiration and direction that they're ripe for the picking."

He said many of the youths targeted were "basically social orphans", and labelled their manipulation by active criminals "Dickensian".

"And whilst that's a bigger issue for another day, all the reasons behind it, the police are the ones now having to play catch up for how education and lawmakers have let everyone down over the past decades," he said.

NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.

• Download the 9NEWS App here via Apple and Google Play
• Make 9News your preferred source on Google by ticking this box here
• Sign up to our breaking newsletter here