‘Crime easier than Centrelink’ for young Victorians, police summit hears

The teenage crime crisis plaguing Victoria has been discussed in detail at Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton’s Youth Summit today.  

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews was among more than 200 leaders from government and not-for-profit organisations who met to discuss teen crime at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Comm. Ashton said he hoped the event “expressed the sentiment of young people being locked out of society”.

“For them, it’s easier to deal drugs, than deal with the bureaucracy of Centrelink,” he said.

“They’re saying it’s easier for them to steal than to earn”.

The summit heard that the number of young Victorian offenders had dropped, but the re-offending rate had risen, along with the severity of crimes.

“We’re finding we are arresting the same people again and again and again,” Comm. Ashton said.

Salvation Army major Brendan Nottle said troubled teens needed a “safe adult” for guidance.

"When a person is locked out it's only a sure bet until they are locked up," Maj. Nottle said.

Youth Works Victoria representative Temese Leilua said education was imperative in solving the state’s youth crime problem.

"Education is going to trump everything else ... that's what is going to help,” she said.

Victorian police will compile the summit’s finding into a report for the government.

“The information will be important in that it will be driving our law enforcement decision making,” Comm. Ashton said.

Victoria Police has tweeted highlights direct from the summit. 

https://twitter.com/VictoriaPolice/status/755939387523739649