NSW Police announces ‘Youth Crime Taskforce’ to tackle underage crime

A new police taskforce has been set up to tackle a deadly escalation of gang activity and knife violence among young people in NSW.

A spate of violent and deadly youth crimes in NSW will be tackled by a new Youth Crime Taskforce, NSW Police ­Commissioner Karen Webb has revealed.

The high-level taskforce will have its first meeting next month, in the wake of a string of disturbing incidents, including the stabbing death of 17-year-old Uati Faletolu at the Royal Easter Show in April.

Concerns have been mounting about an escalation of Sydney gang activity and knife violence among teenagers and young people.

Ms Webb announced the news during this week’s parliamentary budget estimates hearings into NSW Police while being quizzed by ALP juvenile justice spokeswoman Tara Moriarty.

Ms Moriarty said it appeared youth violence had become more “extreme in recent months and some young people have died as a result”.

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb and (inset) young stabbing victim Uati Faletolu.

She said she was aware of two deaths and asked Ms Webb whether there had been any others. In response, Ms Webb said there had also been people injured as a result of such activity.

“So it’s not just the deaths I’m concerned about … but it’s certainly a concern to all of us,” she said.

Ms Webb then announced Deputy Police Commissioner Peter Thurtell would co-chair the taskforce alongside ­representatives from the ­Department of Education, Communities and Justice, as well as Youth Justice.

Ms Moriarty said too many lives had already been lost.

“Everybody knows that violent, deadly youth crime is growing, yet the Perrottet government has been ignoring this issue for months,” she said.

“I’m glad to finally see some commonsense action from our public servants, while the Perrottet government has said nothing.”

Police Minister Paul Toole said he had been working closely with police on the best ways to prevent youth crime and violence.

“A review has been set up to consider the best ways to keep at-risk youth on the right track,” he said.

A four-day police blitz on youth violence in June led to 232 people being charged and 110 knives confiscated.

NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics data reveals the over-representation of youths in knife attacks.

Sixty one “persons of interest” in knife attacks across the state last year were aged between ten and 17 - compared to 205 adults.

Two children were stabbed last year while 98 children aged between ten and 17 were victims of non-domestic assaults using a knife, screwdriver or scissors.

A spokeswoman for Premier Dominic Perrottet said Mr Toole had been working with NSW Police to “prevent youth crime by working with the Department of Education, which is partnering with organisations like the PCYC to help students in thousands of schools across the state get the support they need”.

“Additionally a review is underway to develop a whole of government response to prevent youth crime to ensure all government agencies are working together to support at risk young people.”