Large spike in youth crime in Sydney’s southwest
FIGURES from the Bureau of Crime Statistics show underage drug dealers, thugs and thieves are wreaking havoc in southwest Sydney, with an alarming rise in crimes committed by juvenile offenders in 2017.
Fairfield
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UNDERAGE drug dealers, thugs and thieves are wreaking havoc in southwest Sydney as statistics reveal an alarming rise in crimes committed by juvenile offenders in 2017.
In March six teenagers from Canterbury Bankstown were charged after a string of alleged aggravated robberies that left one man fighting for his life after he was assaulted.
A 16-year-old boy was charged with breaching his bail after a brawl at a Liverpool service station on March 5, and another faces several charges after he drove his car into a Canley Vale house on March 6.
Figures from the Bureau of Crime Statistics reveal the number of assaults committed by Fairfield children aged 10 to 17 has risen 152 per cent in two years.
Teen thugs from Fairfield committed a whopping 63 assaults in 2017, up from 25 in 2016.
Fairfield also had the state’s second highest number of underage cannabis dealers, with eight enterprising juveniles charged in 2017.
ARMED ROBBERY
Fairfield also boasts the dubious honour of the state’s seventh highest number of armed robberies by underage offenders, who committed 14 hold-ups in 2017.
The number of light-fingered Liverpool juveniles charged with theft from motor vehicles almost doubled from 2016 to 2017, rising from 27 to 48.
Canterbury Bankstown juveniles clocked a concerning and sudden increase in the number of indecent assaults, with none charged in 2016 and five charged in 2017.
However, there was a substantial decrease in cases of malicious damage and disorderly conduct, which dropped by up to 67 per cent in Canterbury Bankstown in 2017.
Recent reports also reveal a shocking number of fast and furious underage speedsters are risking their lives committing crimes behind the wheel.
In late February three teenage girls were charged after a high speed pursuit in a stolen vehicle, which reached speeds of 130km/h as they sped through Liverpool and into Carramar.
A 17-year-old girl faced a children’s court charged with allegedly stealing a vehicle, dangerous driving, a police pursuit and having goods in custody.
Two girls aged 15 and 16 were also charged with travelling in a stolen vehicle.
A 17-year-old boy was charged with stealing a car, dangerous driving, a police pursuit, driving unlicensed and having stolen goods after he led police on a high-speed chase through Liverpool last November.
Another 17-year-old boy was lucky to be alive after he evaded police in Lakemba and eventually crashed a stolen Holden Commodore into a tree in Enfield last September.
INTERVENTION
Fairfield City Police Area Command crime manager Brett Grenfell said the Young Offenders Act provided a basis for diverting young offenders aged 10 to 18 from court.
“Under the Act, the nature of intervention for a young person will depend on a range of factors,” Snr Sgt Grenfell said.
“(These) include the seriousness of the offence, harm to the victim, degree of violence and previous offending history.”
Fairfield police also refer young offenders to programs run by police at Cabramatta PCYC.
“Fairfield City Police Area Command youth liaison officers work closely with the local primary and high schools in the area to provide education and programs to engage children of all ages,” Snr Sgt Grenfell said.
Bankstown PAC crime co-ordinator Helen Beileiter said a youth liaison officer, a school liaison officer and two officers attached to Bankstown PCYC served the region.
SCHOOL VISITS
“Police visit local schools on a daily basis to deliver presentations on crime avoidance and mentoring and advice to students when they have returned from suspension,” Snr Sgt Beileiter said.
“Police also conduct youth cautions at Bankstown police station with young people and their support persons where they are given advice and counselling about the offences they have committed, along with access to support services.”
Local police are also involved in programs aimed at empowering youths with greater decision-making abilities and personal responsibility.
“Bankstown police’s Lead the Way program involves a number of students interacting with officers during the school holidays in activities such as kayaking, bush walking, abseiling, along with mentoring by police,” Snr Sgt Beileiter said.
“The aim of the program is to encourage healthy lifestyles through physical education and nutrition along with positive role models in the police.”
Bankstown police and youth officers also work with local families to provide support and work with local organisations to identify and address the needs of local youths.
IN OTHER NEWS
THE STATISTICS
■ Fairfield juveniles committed 63 armed robberies in 2017, up from 25 in 2016
■ Liverpool juveniles committed 47 armed robberies in 2017, up from 23 in 2016
■ Fairfield juveniles committed 14 armed robberies in 2017, the state’s seventh highest rate
■ Indecent assaults committed by juveniles increased from 0 to 5 between 2016 and 2017 in Canterbury Bankstown
■ The number of motor vehicle thefts by juvenile offenders increased from 9 in 2016 to 29 in 2017 in Fairfield, the state’s 15th highest rate
■ Liverpool juveniles committed 48 thefts from cars in 2017, the state’s fifth highest rate
■ Cases of malicious damage dropped from 53 in 2016 to 38 in 2017 in Canterbury Bankstown
■ Cases of disorderly conduct dropped from 46 in 2016 to 15 in 2017 in Canterbury Bankstown
■ Fairfield had the state’s second highest number of juvenile cannabis dealers, with eight dealt with by police in 2017
■ Cases of intimidation and stalking more than doubled in Liverpool in 2017, increasing to 38 from 17 in 2016
■ Fairfield had the state’s eighth highest number of juveniles charged with weapons offences, increasing from 12 in 2016 to 19 in 2017
■ Liverpool had the state’s 12th highest number of juveniles charged with weapons offences, doubling from nine in 2016 to 18 in 2017