NSW violence reduction units: 425 days after announced, no plans in place to launch pilot programs

They were touted as a plan to help reduce youth violence before more young blood was spilt – but more than 400 days after Violence Reduction Units were announced no concrete plans are in place to roll out the program.

They were touted as a revolutionary plan to help put a stop to youth violence before more young blood was spilt – but more than 425 days after Violence Reduction Units were announced, countless horrific teen deaths and a shocking 4000 knife charges last year – no concrete plans are in place to roll out the program.

In March last year, The Daily Telegraph revealed NSW Youth Justice had acquired $6.4 million to develop a pilot program to see Violence Reduction Units established in Penrith and Wagga.

At the time, former Deputy Premier Paul Toole said the department would replicate the concept behind the 18 units operating across the United Kingdom.

After more than a year passing since it was announced, Mr Toole said this week that he had expected the pilot programs to have been “operational within three months of them being announced”, as “all government departments had signed off on the brief before march last year”.

But since the announcement, NSW Government sources said they have “heard very little about the program or its planning”, as a Youth Justice spokeswoman told The Daily Telegraph “consultation” was underway.

“Multi-agency and community consultations are underway to determine key aspects of the model including target outcomes, required supports, and pathways for identifying suitable young people,” the spokeswoman said.

APRIL 7, 2024: Youth Minister Jihad Dib. Picture: Damian Shaw

“The model will be a whole systems approach to identifying and responding to the risk factors that cause young people to become involved in violent crime, and will build upon existing multi-agency services in place for young people in contact with the justice system.”

But Youth Justice told NSW parliament last month the program would be rolled out by “mid-2024”.

The department spokeswoman said it was tasked with developing a plan alongside government agencies from the Department of Communities and Justice, NSW Education, the NSW Children’s Court, Police and Health.

“The co-design process also involves the Aboriginal Legal Service, local non-government organisations including Aboriginal community Controlled Organisations, young people and their families,” the spokeswoman said. “Funding has been allocated this financial year to design the metropolitan and regional VRU model.”

However, there has been no information about how the community can be involved in public consultation published online.

Violence reduction units were rolled out across the UK in 2018, in an effort to “stabilise and reduce violence” and “find the major causes of violence and co-ordinate action … to tackle them at scale”.

Opposition spokesman for police Paul Toole. Picture: NCA NewsWIRE / Monique Harmer

Shadow Police Minister Paul Toole said “nothing has been done to fast-track these programs, despite a rising number of violent incidents gripping the state”.

“More than 14 months after they were announced and the Government are still in the consultation stage,” he said. “Acts of violence have rocked our state.

“We need these programs now.”

Mr Toole said the government had a “pre-built and successful framework in the UK” the Government could rely on to fast-track the pilot program.

The lack of frameworks to rollout the units across Sydney and the regions comes as almost 4000 charges related to knife possession in NSW were recorded in 2023, with the state left scarred after seemingly back-to-back stabbing incidents, including the most recent horrific mass stabbings at Westfield Bondi, Doonside, Campbelltown and at a church in Wakeley.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal a total of 3909 knife-related charges were handed down by police in 2023.

Pictured is a detective talking to teens near the scene at Doonside Technology High School where two teens were stabbed resulting in the death of one. Picture: Richard Dobson

Violent slashings in Sydney’s west and southwest in the past weeks – including multiple unrelated alleged stabbings in Doonside and Minto – resulted in the death of an 18-year-old man and the hospitalised two other 18-year-olds, taking place just days apart from each other.

Meanwhile, a man was left fighting for his life and another seriously injured on April 10 after an alleged stabbing on Ninth Ave, Campsie.

Just days later, police were hunting a knifeman following a stabbing at The Crescent in Homebush at around 2am on April 19.

The month-long reign of terror across the state, allegedly involving several teen attackers comes as BOCSAR stats revealed no parent has been charged in the past five years for their child brandishing a knife in public.

Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns (C), NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb (L) and Ambulance Commissioner Dominic Morgan speak during a press conference on April 16, 2024 in Sydney, Australia. Hundreds clashed with police in western Sydney after an Orthodox Christian bishop was allegedly stabbed at the alter at Mar Mari Emmanuel at Assyrian church in Wakeley. (Photo by Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)

A NSW Government spokeswoman said it was “committed to keeping people safe”.

“Violent crime has no place in this state and we are doing everything we can to help prevent these shocking incidents from happening,” she said. “Last year we passed … legislation … which doubled the maximum penalties for the offences of possessing a knife in a public place or school and wielding a knife in a public place or a school.”

Forensics pictured outside 122 Ninth Ave in Campsie where there was a stabbing last night. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

Existing youth violence programs in NSW include a case management, behaviour and family interventions work for young people aged 10 to 17 years of age who are at risk of long-term involvement in the criminal justice system, as well as youth justice conferencing, which brings young offenders, the victim and NSW Police to divert young people from the criminal justice system.

Meanwhile, a “Bail Accommodation Support Service” works to reduce the numbers of young people remanded on bail due to accommodation issues.