Wyndham among worst in state for youth crime, data reveals

More than 500 youths, some as young as 10, were charged with serious crimes including assaults, sex offences and robberies across Wyndham last year, new government figures have revealed.

New statistics reveal a disturbing trend in youth crime across Wyndham.

Children as young as 10 are being charged with a raft of violent offences as youth crime rages across Wyndham.

Data obtained exclusively by the Leader shows more than 500 children aged 10-17 were charged in Wyndham last year, with young offenders responsible for 10.7 per cent of the area’s crime.

The figures from the Crime Statistics Agency show 96 young offenders were charged with assault during 2018, and 28 kids and teens were picked up for other nasty crimes against the person, including sexual offences, stalking and harassment.

Children were also charged over 42 robberies and 52 public order and security offences, including weapons and explosives charges, and disorderly and offensive conduct.

Theft made up the bulk of youth-related crimes in Wyndham, with 187 young offenders charged last year.

Police are currently investigating a spate of street robberies in Werribee, Williams Landing and Point Cook where a group of young offenders have allegedly demanded people hand over mobiles phones, wallets and cash.

Seven youths were last month arrested in relation to a similar incident in Werribee, but investigations into other alleged incidents are ongoing.

Wyndham has one of the highest youth crime rates across the state, coming in behind the Melbourne CBD; Latrobe, which includes Moe, Morwell and Traralgon; Geelong; Casey; Hume and Frankston.

And a program set up in 2017 to smash youth gang crime across the western suburbs has detected more than 1200 arrests in the past two years.

Youth Specialist Officers have been deployed by Victoria Police to target repeat young criminals, working with the offenders’ families, schools and communities to get their lives back on track.

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North West Metro Region Superintendent Therese Fitzgerald said the officers focused on high-harm crime, including serious assaults, aggravated burglaries and carjackings.

“The reality is we know that there are still a small percentage of young people creating fear in our community and we want to stamp this out,” she said.

“It’s really important that we support a range of initiatives to engage with at-risk youth and prevent people from committing crime.”

The data shows Truganina, Tarneit and Hoppers Crossing had the highest youth crime rate, with 239 offenders charged in the 3029 postcode.

The 3030 postcode — Werribee, Werribee South and Point Cook — was close behind with 215.