Canterbury Bankstown sowing seeds to reduce youth crime

Targeting youth at risk with community programs and mentoring has helped keep a lid on youth crime in Canterbury Bankstown.

The local PCYCs, including Bankstown and Belmore, have several activities to engage local youth.

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Local police, Canterbury Bankstown Council and youth organisations in the area are working behind the scenes to ensure at-risk youth are kept away from a life of crime and keep the rate of offending down.

Campsie Police Area Command’s successful Wise Up campaign where vulnerable students are supported is a case in point. It won them the 2018 NSW Rotary Program of the Year.

According to the latest NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOSCAR), youth crime is stable in the Canterbury Bankstown local government area.

Bankstown PCYC martial arts instructor Chung Dang is one of the many trainers who holds regular classes for youth at the centre. Picture: Chris Pavlich

The report showed that in most categories of youth crime, the incidents had fallen or were stable.

There were 69 assaults involving juveniles from March 2018-March 2019, down from 79, for March 2017-March 2018.

Robberies were also down compared to the previous period, from 25 to 17 while thefts involving juveniles are down for 2018-19 at 91 from 112 for 2017-2018.

Sexual assault numbers were the same for both periods with 12 incidents reported.

Disorderly conduct was stable, with 25 recorded for the last year compared to 24 for 2017-2018.

Malicious damage for 2018-19 was 35, down from 40 for the previous period.

Campsie crime manager Detective Chief Inspector Paul Albury said they were involved in a variety of PCYC programs that “engage at risk youth and mentor, prepare youth for work, address nutrition and provide skills”.

“I am not aware of any rise in youth crime in the area,” he said.

“We do many other programs, including breakfast programs, domestic violence programs, run youth forums that address self esteem, mentoring, drug and alcohol and health relationship components.

RISE UP FOR DISENGAGED YOUTH

Bankstown Police’s acting superintendent Craig Middleton said youth crime is down with most connected to transport offences or traffic-related.

“Statistically youth crime in the Bankstown area in down on same time last year figures,” he said.

“The majority of our youth crime relates to transport offences or traffic-related. Bankstown works tirelessly in this area in conjunction with our internal partners, such as the Police Transport Command in and around the major transport hubs to interact with youths on the public transport to prevent and intervene where possible.

“We also work with the PCYC in regards to the new Police RISE UP program. This program encompasses a number of youth strategies initiated by the commissioner which directly targets youths and offers them diversions away from crime and anti-social behaviour.

“Primarily it connects disengaged young people with workplace opportunities, such as casual/fulltime work or traineeships.

“Currently we have two programs running called Fit for work and Fit for life.

“Our Youth Liaison Officer and School Liaison Officer are heavily involved in assisting with this program as well as regularly delivering school talks, and post school suspension meetings between parents, youths and the school.

“We also participate in outreach visits at Paul Keating Park organised by Youth Off The Street.”

Campsie police multicultural liaison officers Gandhi Sindyan and Sina Winterstein look after the Wise Up program which provides viable alternatives to at-risk youth.

“Wise Up campaign targets young people in regard to mentoring and leadership where we try to help them with life-shifting choices,” Ms Winterstein said.

Canterbury Bankstown Chamber of Commerce CEO Wally Mehanna

“Wise Up is an eight-week program run during school terms for Year 9 to 12 students.

“We have to limit each batch to 20 per term and it is funded by Human Appeal (based in Lakemba).

“A lot of schoolchildren are identified at risk and we also get the highway patrol officers to speak to students about safety on the roads.”

COUNCIL WORKS TO PREVENT YOUTH CRIME

Canterbury Bankstown Mayor Khal Asfour said the council funded youth crime prevention projects.

These include improving relationships between police and youth through the Twilight Sports Program, which is an initiative encouraging social inclusion and participation for those aged 12 to 18.

“We remain committed to supporting our youth, many of whom will be our leaders of tomorrow, through a range of annual activities, events and programs,” Councillor Asfour said.

“We are also currently finalising the city’s new Youth Plan, following extensive community consultation, which will help guide council and local youth groups to meet the growing needs of our youth.”

Another of the council’s main projects is the My Life My Choice Youth Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health Conference for high schools, which discusses crime and at-risk behaviours with young people.

Over at Bankstown PCYC, the police work with teenagers by helping them with job skills while the club runs several sports program to engage with teenagers.

Bankstown PCYC manager David Adams said two police officers work and support around 20 young people, often getting some to complete their education or rejoin their schools.

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“Many of the youth take part in our sports programs with boxing being the most popular,” Mr Adams said.

Canterbury Bankstown Chamber of Commerce CEO Wally Mehanna said the issue of at risk youth will be the main focus for the RISEUP event featuring NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller.

The chamber is hosting RISEUP at Bankstown Sports Club on September 30, with Mr Mehanna saying it is something he is passionate about.

“I believe the RISEUP event is a very positive thing for our community and will help youth,” he said.

“I invite all stakeholders to register for this free event where they can speak to the police commissioner.

“It will help our youth get more employment opportunities.”

To register, go to RISEUP