Reports today that violent crime has spiked across Melbourne’s major shopping centres again highlights Daniel Andrews’ failure to tackle violent youth offending in the community.
Latest figures from the independent Victorian Crime Statistics Agency have revealed an almost 90 per cent increase in violent crime in and around shopping centres over the last 5 years.
Over this period, criminal offending has more than doubled in well-known shopping centres such as Chadstone, Fountain Gate and Eastland – whilst Northland and Southland recorded some of the highest numbers of total offences in the state.
These figures follow the recent tragic killing of 15 year old Solomone Taufeulungaki at the Brimbank Shopping Centre and a record high number of violent crimes against the person committed by 15-19 year olds.
Under Daniel Andrews, major shopping centres have become hotspots for crime and Labor’s more of the same approach is leaving local businesses, families and residents to pick up the pieces.
Comments attributable to Shadow Minister for Police and Community Safety, David Southwick:
“Shopping centres should be places for families and people to enjoy – not hotspots for violent crime.
“With far too many small businesses struggling and Victoria leading the nation for job losses in May, the last thing they can afford is losing more customers who simply don’t feel safe in our shopping centres.
“Daniel Andrews must address violent youth offending in our community by boosting frontline policing and ensuring there are appropriate consequences for serious offenders and support for young people that have lost their way.”
