Push for PM to fund youth gang-busting squad
THE Prime Minister is being urged to fund 80 new AFP officers to smash the gangs terrorising Melbourne’s suburbs.
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THE Prime Minister is being urged to fund 80 new AFP officers to smash the gangs terrorising Melbourne’s suburbs.
Federal Liberal MP and former police officer Jason Wood, who has served in Victoria’s counter-terror and organised crime squads, will push for Malcolm Turnbull’s support to urgently establish two joint crime-fighting taskforces in light of a fresh wave of violence and intimidation.
It comes after the Herald Sun on Friday reported how gangs of youths of mostly African origin — including the emerging Menace to Society — have turned Tarneit’s Ecoville community park into a no-go zone.
THUGS TRASH TARNEIT’S ECOVILLE COMMUNITY PARK
The thugs, some as young as 10, repeatedly smash up what was once a family-friendly meeting spot.
Under Mr Wood’s plan, 40 Australian Federal Police would aim at gang trouble spots in Melbourne’s west, and another 40 in the outer southeast.
The La Trobe MP had floated a plan for a total of 50 AFP members to hit the streets, but is taking his upgraded proposal to Mr Turnbull as a matter of urgency.
“The time where we say this is a policing issue or a state government issue has passed — enough is enough,” Mr Wood told the Herald Sun.
“The PM needs to ensure the resources are made available to (Home Affairs Minister) Peter Dutton.
“We must end the violence, which is taking a huge toll on communities across Melbourne,” Mr Wood said.
“We as a federal government have control of the visas, we have the tactical resources, and our job is to keep the communities safe.
“We need to take action before this violence and intimidation spreads even further.”
POLICEMAN INJURED, HOME TRASHED AT WILD WERRIBEE PARTY
POLICE ON AMBUSH ALERT AS NEW MENACE JOINS APEX GANG
TEENAGER CHARGED AFTER OUT-OF-CONTROL WERRIBEE PARTY
POLICE ON AMBUSH ALERT AS NEW MENACE JOINS APEX GANG
The police presence would be bolstered by African youth workers, immigration officials and Victoria Police members under a proposed federal-state funding agreement.
His detailed policy plan estimates a 100-staff base would cost state and federal governments at least $8 million a year to operate.
The push comes as he called again on the Turnbull Government to adopt recommendations for convicted overseas-born youth thugs who are over 16 to be detained until they are 18, when they can be deported.
Premier Daniel Andrews on Friday called for more arrests and less excuses to tackle the rising rate of youth offending in Melbourne’s west. “Don’t think for a moment you’re ever going to get me excusing that sort of behaviour — we’re not having that,” Mr Andrews said.
Deputy Commissioner Andrew Crisp acknowledged communities in the western suburbs were “worried” about the “anti-social behaviour” of young people of African and Pacific Island backgrounds.
“They’re worried, they’re concerned and they’re working with us,” he said.
Crime data last month found the number of Sudanese-born criminals aged 10 to 18 who committed an aggravated burglary in Victoria surged from just 20 in 2014-15 to 98 in 2016-17.
The data showed the number of serious assaults committed by Sudanese-born youths jumped more than 55 per cent.
It comes as a teen thug of African appearance, aged 17, was charged on Friday following an alleged assault on a police officer at Highpoint shopping centre on Boxing Day.