Casey youth crime: police vow zero tolerance on violent offenders
Violent thugs as young as 10 are running amok in Casey — the home of Narre Warren’s Fountain Gate shopping centre, where teen gangs have recently run amok.
South East
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Out of control children — some as young as 10 — are committing violent crimes in Casey, and police have vowed to take a zero tolerance approach against offenders.
Recent violence by teen gangs at Narre Warren’s Fountain Gate shopping centre has put the spotlight on youth crime in Casey.
Street assaults in other parts of Narre Warren and Cranbourne have also been reported.
Data shows Casey recorded the fourth highest youth crime figures in the state behind Melbourne, Latrobe and Geelong.
The Crime Statistics Agency figures show 924 children aged 10-17 were charged in Casey last year, making up 12.5 per cent of the area’s reported crime.
Of those, 215 were charged with assault and 45 were picked up for crimes against the person, which can include sexual offences, stalking and harassment.
Children were also charged for 81 robberies and 52 public order and security offences.
Theft made up the bulk of youth-related crimes, with 262 young offenders charged last year.
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Casey Local Area Commander Inspector Don Brown said his officers would not tolerate crimes “which may cause harm to the community”.
“We are committed to holding offenders to account and will investigate these offences thoroughly,” he said.
“We are undertaking intelligence-led patrols, focusing on people wanted on warrants, ensuring offenders are complying with their strict bail conditions, and managing persons of interest.”
Despite the vow to crack down on offenders, Insp Brown said prevention was just as important.
“(Victoria Police) has a number of specialist proactive officers who are dedicated to preventing and deterring crime,” he said.
“(The) officers have in-depth knowledge of the at-risk youth in their communities and work in proactive and reactive situations to prevent these young people from entering the justice system.”
Insp Brown said it was important to note youths were only a small percentage of all offenders.
“Areas with a higher population of young people, such as growth corridors like Casey, can tend to have a higher rate of youth offending,” he said.
“Other factors which can influence rates of offending include family factors and socio-economic issues such as poverty, employment opportunities, and engagement in education and training.”