Today’s budget by the Andrews Labor Government has failed to address worsening youth offending which continues to threaten the safety of Victorians across the state.
Under the Andrews Labor Government, 15-19-year-olds are now the largest cohort of offenders in cases of violent crimes against the person.
Today’s budget and the latest independent Crime Statistic Agency data confirms only 912 of the 30,344 alleged offenders aged between 10-19 in 2019-20, received a referral to a youth support agency – meaning 32 out of 33 young offenders are not receiving the support they need.
This rate stands in stark contrast to support for victims of family violence, of which almost 9 out of 10 receive a referral to a support agency.
The Andrews Labor Government has also failed to allocate any funding or resources in support of a full and comprehensive Police in Schools Program. As a consequence, at-risk young Victorians will continue to miss out on the opportunity to build a positive relationship with police and community, helping them stay out of a life of crime.
With youth offending continuing to rise and crime having reached an all-time high, Daniel Andrews failure to proactively address youth crime continues to the place the safety of all Victorians at risk.
Comments attributable to Shadow Minister for Police & Community Safety, David Southwick:
“Under Labor so many young people are falling through the cracks and not getting the support they need to get out of a life a crime and stay on the right path.
“Youth offending remains of the greatest threats to the safety of Victorian families, yet all we get from Daniel Andrews is more of the same.
“Daniel Andrews’ repeated failure to back a comprehensive Police in Schools program is a missed opportunity to keep kids on the right path.”
