Kempsey, Bourke youth crime funding: Oxley MP Michael Kemp responds

They say cash is king, but not when it comes to young criminals terrorising regional NSW towns. Amid a huge funding boost, one MP says real consequences are required to see real change.

They say cash is king, but the young criminals terrorising regional towns like Kempsey need real consequences says one Mid-North Coast MP in response to the state government’s $4m funding boost to tackle youth crime.

On Wednesday the Minns Government announced the funding boost would be divided between Kempsey and Bourke to address rising youth crime through place-based initiatives.

This publication has highlighted the issue in recent months including the shocking trend of young criminals ‘posting and boasting’ about their brazen acts online.

Kempsey 'post and boast' crimes shared on Instagram.

In Kempsey, two Instagram pages — ‘kempseyyoungins’ now renamed ‘kempseymostdangerous’ and ‘kempseyolders’ — have showcased dangerous and daring behaviour, including videos of drivers with their faces covered speeding at up to 220km/h, with both pages running the tagline “you sleep we creep”.

One of the brazen clips posted shows two people in a car driving suspiciously slow past Kempsey Police Station before flooring the accelerator and reaching speeds in excess of 150km/h.

At South West Rocks, the president of the local surf life saving club has spoken about his frustration after repeated break-ins at the clubhouse.

He says the same two young boys are responsible but there seems to be nothing stopping them from repeatedly terrorising the club and other businesses in town.

Cleaning up in the wake of the tenth break-in at the South West Rocks surf clubhouse in as many months, discovered in the early hours of January 18.

And just this weekend, also at South West Rocks, two youths who locals claim are “well known” in town, smashed windows at a cafe, restaurant, multiple retailers and a tobacconist at the seaside town, stealing money, alcohol and clothing across several venues.

Oxley MP Michael Kemp touched on this when responding to the funding announcement.

Cars burnt out in parks is not uncommon in parts of Kempsey.

His electorate takes in the towns of Kempsey, Crescent Head and South West Rocks, which have been particularly troubled by the rising rates of youth crime.

He has welcomed the funding but says without tougher laws and magistrates taking a firm stance, repeat offenders will continue to cycle through the system, leaving families and businesses to suffer the consequences.

A crime spree in South West Rocks has seen windows smashed, cash stolen and businesses vandalised by two local offenders over the weekend.

The funding matches the Commonwealth’s investment under the Stronger Places, Stronger People program and will empower local teams to develop and implement strategies that address youth crime at a grassroots level.

“However, we need to be honest, community programs alone are not enough,” Mr Kemp said.

“If offenders know there are no real consequences for their actions, we will keep seeing break-ins, car thefts, and assaults devastate families and businesses.”

Member for Oxley, Michael Kemp MP.

Mr Kemp has consistently pushed for stronger bail laws and a justice system that prioritises victims over offenders.

“Our police officers are doing their job, but when serial offenders are let back onto the streets within hours of arrest, the system is failing,” Mr Kemp said.

The bail act has been amended under the Minns Government to include an additional bail test for young people between 14 and 18 charged with committing a ‘serious break and enter offence’ or motor vehicle offence while on bail for a similar offence.

There has also been the creation of a new ‘post and boast’ offence under the Crimes Act, criminalising the filming and disseminating of footage of certain serious offences to publicise or advertise the commission of that offence.

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Originally published as Kempsey, Bourke youth crime funding: Oxley MP Michael Kemp responds