‘Disturbing’: Shock rise in youths caught with knives and explosives

More than 1500 teens across the country were caught with knives and explosives — the last time that figure was so high was 15 years ago.

More than 1500 teenagers were charged over weapons and explosives in the last financial year, a sobering 43 per cent increase since Labor came to power in 2022.

In the 2021-2022 financial year, 1108 teens aged 10 to 17 years were charged with weapons and explosives offences but two years on that figure jumped to 1587 offenders for the 2023-2024 financial year, according to new figures from the Australia Bureau of Statistics.

The last time the number of young offenders in that category of crimes crossed 1500 was in the 2009-2010 financial year.

A major police operation across NSW resulted in the seizure of knives and weapons as part of a two-day blitz.

The coalition will use the alarming figures to ramp up its attacks on Labor’s record on crime.

Coalition strategists previously told The Saturday Telegraph youth crime was going to be a key plank of Peter Dutton’s re-election strategy despite it mostly being in the jurisdiction of the states.

“These statistics paint a grim yet unfortunately real picture of the out of control youth crime we’ve seen explode under weak Labor governments,” the coalition’s home affairs spokesman James Paterson said.

“Only a Dutton Coalition government can be trusted to be tough on crime and do what is required to make Australia safer.”

More than 600 Kempsey locals attended a youth crime rally in Kempsey on Sunday.

Youth crime has been a growing issue across Australia but particularly in NSW, Queensland, and the Northern Territory.

Nationals MP for Cowper Pat Conaghan said he spoke at a crime rally in Kempsey last month where about 700 locals turned up.

“People simply don’t feel safe,” he said.

“There is room for the federal government to have involvement in this.

“I don’t want to hear ‘It’s a local issue, state or federal issue’ anymore, it’s a community issue.”

Senator James Paterson holds a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: Martin Ollman

Bourke, in northwestern NSW, has been one of the towns on the frontline of the youth crime crisis.

Mayor Lachlan Ford said the use of weapons in youth crime had escalated in recent years.

“Crime is nothing new to Bourke unfortunately but the level of crime and the willingness to use knives has risen,” he said.

“There is a video of youths holding up two people in a motel room, knives to their throats … this is pretty disturbing stuff.”

Mr Ford said youth crime was a state issue but he would welcome the discussion on a federal level ahead of the election.

“We would welcome any assistance. This is all state stuff but anything the federal government can bring to their attention has got to assist.”