Northern NSW residents vow to fight youth crime on their own terms amid ‘broken’ system

Northern NSW residents at breaking point over a spate of youth crime incidents - including an alleged car theft at knifepoint - plan to “patrol streets” and make “citizen’s arrests” to tackle what they say is a “broken system”.

North Coast residents at breaking point over a spate of youth crime incidents - including an alleged car theft at knifepoint - plan to “patrol streets” and make “citizen’s arrests” to tackle what they say is a “broken system”.

The potential drastic action coincides with retired police officers blaming the judicial system for failing to keep communities safe by allowing repeat offenders to “walk away with a slap on the wrist”.

Despite sweeping reforms from the state government and a $26.2m package to address youth crime in regional NSW, the former law enforcement personnel say not much has changed.

NSW detective sergeant-turned Ballina Deputy Mayor Damian Loone – who refused to give up on the high-profile cold case disappearance of Lynette Dawson in 1982 until killer husband Chris Dawson was found guilty – said “habitual” teen criminals were simply being “let off the hook”.

He said offending across the Northern Rivers in recent weeks had been “rife”.

An alleged attempted break-in, caught on CCTV at a Goonellabah home on Boxing Day. Picture: Facebook / Supplied

Mr Loone said “weak legislation”, combined with a lack of serious consequences for offenders who breached bail, was a “core issue” and the state’s Young Offenders Act was in need of a “hard look”.

“If you’re breaking into someone’s house with a knife, you’re armed with intent,” he said.

“The offence carries a significant penalty but none of these kids are getting anywhere near that (in terms of rulings).”

Mr Loone “strongly backs” the “adult crime, adult time” stand Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has taken across the border.

He has also been an advocate for an increased CCTV rollout in Ballina and Lennox Head since being elected in October.

NSW Police detective sergeant-turned Ballina Deputy Mayor Damian Loone has taken aim at what he calls “weak legislation” in dealing with young offenders. Picture: Supplied

In the wake of increased youth crime incidents across the region, Goonellabah resident Cooper Byrne took to social media to spearhead a “community patrol” to “stop wannabe thugs”.

He joins a chorus of hundreds of commenters who say the system is “broken”.

“People held at knifepoint, being bashed and cars stolen on a daily basis by the same offenders time and time again and nothing is being done about it,” he said.

“I’m proposing a patrol, not vigilantes but a neighbourhood watch.

“I will not sit on my ass while single mums out there are petrified to sleep at night for fear of their houses being broken into by these filthy scum.”

Mr Byrne suggested a “convoy of cars and foot patrols”.

“We are well in our rights to detain offenders with citizen’s arrest. We could also pay the homes of these bastards a visit to retrieve our property. If this continues to escalate someone on either side will die.”

Andre Els (left), the organiser of the first Goonellabah community youth crime meeting with Ballina Shire Mayor Sharon Cadwallader and Detective Chief Inspector Bill McKenna. Picture: Catherine Piltz

Staunch community advocate Andre Els, also a retired police officer, echoed Mr Loone’s concerns and said residents needed to be “vigilant”.

“It seems they’re coming down from Casino and Goonellabah and hitting Lennox Head,” he said.

“The locals people are up in arms because they’re not used to crime there.”

Mr Els was referring to a horrifying incident in the early hours of December 27, in which three youths allegedly stormed a Gibbon St home and threatened occupants at knifepoint before stealing two cars. After a police pursuit, the cars were later found dumped in Casino.

The next day, police nabbed a 16-year-old and charged him with a string of serious offences. He was refused bail to face a children’s court on January 10.

It is now nine months into the state government’s temporary 12-month bail reform, which has introduced a test for magistrates weighing up bail for young offenders.

A youth caught on CCTV, appearing to be holding a knife. Residents say he has broken into their homes on multiple occasions. Picture: Supplied

Repeat offenders, aged 14 to 18 and on bail accused of break and enter or car theft offences, must now convince a magistrate they will not commit a serious offence if granted bail.

Previously, a magistrate could only deny bail if they believed a person posed an unacceptable risk of reoffending.

On community Facebook groups in recent days, there have been multiple posts showing CCTV footage of break-ins and car thefts across the Northern Rivers, with users calling the situation “out of control”.

According to the latest NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research figures, break and enters have nearly doubled in Lismore in the past year, with 304 incidents compared to 171 last year.

There has been a 73 per cent increase in Ballina, with 192 break-ins this year compared to 111 last year.

The number of break-ins are also on the increase in the Clarence Valley and Richmond local government areas.

From Richmond to the Tweed as a whole, 1011 break-ins have been recorded this year versus 744 the previous year.

Northern NSW residents are feeling the impacts of youth crime. Picture: Generic/iStock

Richmond MP Justine Elliot said she was pushing for more “serious consequences for those committing serious crimes”.

“While investing in programs that divert young offenders away from a life of crime is important, when it comes to those serious, hardcore, repeat criminals, they must be held to account,” she said.

She praised the state government’s crackdown on youth offending and showed her support for the introduction of Jack’s Law in NSW, which aims to combat violent knife crime.

In response to growing concerns, NSW Police Northern Region Commander and Assistant Commissioner Dave Waddell said community safety was “the number one priority for the NSW Police Force”.

“Officers across the Northern Region continue to target, disrupt, prevent, and respond to crime,” he said.

“Youth crime continues to be a priority for police and the community, and officers continue to respond by conducting regular high-visibility and proactive operations to target offenders.”

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