YOUTH CRIME EPIDEMIC: Desperate bid to tame NSW’s lawless streets as state government forks out $23 MILLION to tackle ‘out of control’ youth offending
- New bail accommodation in Moree and extra therapeutic services for at-risk youth
- Funding includes $12 million for wraparound services in Moree, Tamworth, and Kempsey
- “This is about keeping young people out of the justice system, diverting them away from the justice system,” says Police Minister Yasmin Catley
The NSW government has launched a bold bid to combat the state’s spiralling youth crime crisis, pouring $23 million into tackling the “out of control” epidemic of young offenders terrorising regional communities.
In a desperate attempt to stem the tide of lawlessness, Premier Chris Minns and Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon announced a package of measures aimed at providing wraparound therapeutic services and bail accommodation to at-risk youth in Moree, Tamworth, and Kempsey.
The funding includes $12 million for services designed to keep young people out of the justice system, with a further $6 million allocated for intensive bail supervision and support. An additional $8.75 million has previously been announced for bail accommodation and support services in Moree.
“This is about keeping young people out of the justice system, diverting them away from the justice system,” Police Minister Yasmin Catley said, highlighting the need for place-based solutions to address the unique challenges facing each community.
Premier Chris Minns conceded that crime was a complex issue, but expressed confidence that the new programs would make a significant difference. “I’m confident that these programs will bear fruit, and it will make the community safer, but it’s not going to eliminate [crime], there is still a big job for NSW police out there,” he said.
The New England North West Region has recorded some of the highest rates of youth crime in NSW, with 587.7 offences per 10,000 young people. While rates of youth offending have been declining since a COVID-era spike three years ago, the drop is bigger in Sydney than in the bush.
Commissioner Mal Lanyon, who has been visiting regional areas, stressed the importance of providing therapeutic programs to give young people a chance to change their ways. “If there are no therapeutic programs, no places for children to actually receive programs that can change them from that career of crime, we know they’re going to stay in the criminal justice system,” he warned.
As the NSW government grapples with the thorny issue of youth crime, the people of Moree, Tamworth, and Kempsey will be watching with bated breath to see if this latest injection of cash can make a real difference in their communities.