Police Commissioner told MPs police frustrated at repeat release breaches and welcomed review of bail laws

Repeat offenders constantly freed on bail develop a “sense of impunity” to crime, according to the state’s top cop speaking to MPs in parliament today.

Westfield Marion was locked down after a teenage brawl in the food court. Picture: Brett Hartwig

Repeat offenders constantly freed on bail develop a “sense of impunity” to crime, according to the state’s frustrated top cop who warned it was unacceptable for a teenager to amass more than 130 charges in a year.

Official courts figures released under Freedom of Information laws showed surging youth crime and offenders aged 10 to 17 breaching bail.

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said police officers were frustrated repeat offenders were constantly freed on bail. Picture: Supplied

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens – who is set to meet Attorney-General Kyam Maher this week on youth crime – told MPs on Monday of force “frustration” at repeat release breaches as he welcomed any review of bail laws.

He said: “I would certainly agree that continual release on bail for serious offenders would give them a sense of impunity in relation to their criminal offending.

“(There is also) a perception that there is an absence of consequence for those behaviours. (This) means we have to deal with those recidivist offenders time and again.”

Asked if it was “acceptable” for a teenager to amass 131 charges in a year, Mr Stevens told the Upper House’s Budget and Finance Committee hearing: “Absolutely not.”

“What I would say about (police) resources is there is an element of frustration in dealing with people who are subject to continual release on bail, notwithstanding significant criminal offending,” he said.

But he said the Young Offenders Act focused on giving young offenders “every opportunity” to avoid the criminal justice system.”

As the state government formally abandoned plans to lift the age of criminal responsibility, Mr Maher also admitted repeat youth offending was “unacceptable”.

A political row then erupted after a parliamentary committee heard claims no additional officers had been enlisted on a new police youth unit, which MPs were told contradicted police and government authorised public documents.

Under opposition questioning, Mr Stevens revealed 14 positions were made permanent in a new Youth and Street Gangs Task Force, which merged temporary operations Mandrake and Meld but did not include extra officers or extra funding.

Premier Peter Malinauskas, Attorney-General Kyam Maher, Treasurer Stephen Mullighan and Police Commissioner Grant Stevens discussing proposed new laws to tackle knife crime. Picture: Supplied

Mr Stevens, who told MPs he believed the 14 were “sufficient”, said making the officers permanent “allows me to do is to backfill” vacant metropolitan district positions.

A force press release outlined “additional” officers while new Police Minister Stephen Mullighan’s statement said “an extra 13 police officers will join their ranks”.

Mr Stevens told MPs: “I would dispute that we are being misleading. We’ve been at pains to explain accurately that we are permanently creating these roles.

“There are going to be more police on the frontline as a result of these initiatives.”

Later a police spokeswoman said outside the hearing the unit would retain “criminal intelligence already built up through years of Meld and Mandrake taskforce policing” from officers.

Outside the hearing Opposition spokesman Jack Batty accused Mr Mullighan of “deliberately misleading the public”.

Jack Batty accused Labor of being misleading – claims the government hotly denied. Picture: Russell Millard Photography

Law Society of South Australia 2025 president Marissa Mackie. Picture: Norman Waterhouse

Mr Mullighan rejected Liberal criticism, insisting he and Mr Stevens had “made it clear” the taskforce’s creation meant an extra 13 sworn officers would be “on the beat”.

Law Society president Marissa Mackie, who supports lifting the age a person can be charged, called for a “significant” taxpayer investment in bail support programs.

“A revolving door of punishment and release for disadvantaged children who often lack any stability in life will more than likely set them up to fail,” she said.

She said many young people released from detention have no home and are refused entry into homelessness services because of bail conditions.

“There is a desperate need for safe and appropriate bail accommodation for children,” she said.

Greens Upper House MP Rob Simms criticised the government’s decision.

Youth crime has been in the spotlight after serious incidents including car thefts and chases, major shopping centre attacks using weapons, and rising regional town violence.

Originally published as Police Commissioner told MPs police frustrated at repeat release breaches and welcomed review of bail laws