Victoria Police dropped ball on youth crime, former inspector says
VICTORIA Police chiefs have withdrawn vital resources from schemes that were helping to steer young people away from crime, according to an inspector who quit this month.
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VICTORIA Police chiefs have withdrawn vital resources from schemes that were helping to steer young people away from crime, according to an inspector who quit this month.
Last week, Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton held a Youth Summit in an effort to unite the community and map out how to stop youngsters from falling into a life of crime.
But Inspector John Thexton, who resigned from Victoria Police on July 6 after 42 years in the job, told the Herald Sun that over the past decade, force command had ditched a number of important youth initiatives to reduce crime.
Mr Thexton, who was one of those who helped bring drug lord Tony Mokbel to justice, said most of the crime problems facing society originated in youngsters’ disengagement from family, education and the broader community.
In a scathing assessment of Victoria Police’s current direction, he also said:
VICTORIA lagged behind others states, particularly Queensland, in how it engaged with young people;
VICTORIA Police command needed to take a leading role to allow police on the beat to re-engage in mentoring youths;
POLICE bosses needed to put a better case to government for funding for more officers; and
SENIOR police engaged in “management by fear” by taking severe disciplinary action against any officer who questioned force command, which could lead officers to suffer from mental health problems.
Speaking to the Herald Sun, Mr Thexton said he was concerned by the current state of Victoria Police management.
“Policing in Victoria is going down a dangerous path.
“In terms of ‘management by fear’, if anybody at a senior level speaks out, they are ruthlessly dealt with,” he said. “It is not a healthy state of affairs for police or for the community.”
He said force command had withdrawn resources from programs that helped steer youths away from crime including, among others, a Police Schools Involvement Program, Blue Light Discos, High Ropes, Neighbourhood Watch and Operation Newstart.
“(And) it is clear we need a significant increase in police numbers to provide better services in prevention ... It is the role of Victoria Police command to engage with the community and put a clear and evidence-based case to achieve this increase,” he said.
Sgt Sharon Darcy, on behalf of Victoria Police, said the force had a focus on early intervention and on diverting youth from the criminal justice system to appropriate services.
“We are engaging in a range of programs with young people. In particular, we are working (with) young people who are at risk of becoming offenders or victims of crime, to foster their social development, build their self-esteem, and help them better connect with their local community,” she said.