Fed up Moree police officer writes community letter exposing extent of youth crime crisis

A fed up NSW country cop has revealed a legal principle that is failing communities when it comes to surging youth crime.

A fed up country police officer has laid bare the youth crime crisis in the NSW bush, insisting the people at the centre “aren’t kids, they are hardened criminals who know what they’re doing”.

The unnamed officer wrote a lengthy letter to the community of Moree, after three 14-year-olds allegedly broke into a home on Tuesday morning and stole a vehicle, which lead to a police pursuit for more than 100km.

During the high-speed chase, motorbike rider Daniel McNamara, 52, was allegedly hit and killed by the ute.

“Ok I’ve stewed on this long enough. Let me fill you in on a few things from the cop perspective,” the officer wrote in the letter posted on the Moree Community Facebook page.

Motorbike rider Daniel McNamara was killed near Gunnedah on Tuesday.

The letter detailed how “keyboard warriors” are quick to blame the cops for letting kids get bail despite reoffending, but he outlined a far more complex issue facing both police and the courts.

“Kids are taught from a very young age the way of the streets. For them, it’s all they know and all they have,” the officer wrote.

“When you work those streets and get to know these kids, it’s heartbreaking to know that the path they are on...Older kids recruit them, and after not too long, they are major players in the cycle of youth crime tearing our communities apart.”

“Yes it’s sad... but there comes a point where they have a choice...they become old enough to know what’s right and wrong”.

He said police and the courts are faced with a legal issue called Doli Incapax, a legal principle that presumes children under a certain age are incapable of forming criminal intent.

“Now this may be relevant for an 11-year-old who stole a packet of chewy...But covering your face and breaking into a house with your mates to bash the victim and steal their car is f**king wrong,” he wrote.

“They have been told their actions were wrong. They have been shown what happens when you do this shit. To then go and do it again?? Come on now. Doli Incapax and the way it is argued and administered in legal proceedings needs to be changed. You break into a home, you assault a person and steal their car… you should be off the streets full stop. That’s where the issue lies.”

The crime scene where motorbike rider Daniel McNamara was killed on Tuesday. Picture: 7News

The letter comes are The Daily Telegraph can reveal shocking statistics which show children bailed on serious crimes are breaching their conditions at the highest number in 10 years, and being allowed back into the community at an alarming rate.

Statistics from NSW BOCSAR reveal 9104 children fronted courts across the state in 2023, with 4319 granted bail - the highest number in the last decade.

A further 3538 had their bail “dispensed with” after their first appearance in court.

The data confirmed a massive 2324 children breached their conditions while on bail, before 1931 and were then once again allowed to roam free in the community with charges hanging over their heads.

Three children charged over homicide and related offences were granted bail during the same period, while 1461 kids charged with intentionally causing injury were also granted bail after their first appearance in court.

The statistics also show that 400 young people charged with robbery and extortion were let back into the community after appearing in court for the first time.

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Originally published as Fed up Moree police officer writes community letter exposing extent of youth crime crisis