Ethnic offenders ‘over-represented’ in youth crime population

VICTORIA’S youth prison population is ‘over-represented’ by ethnic criminals from Africa, the Pacific Islands and indigenous communities, according to a new report.

Police outside IMP Jewellery in Toorak Rd, which was repeatedly targeted by robbers. Picture: Nicki Connolly

YOUNG criminals from Sudan, the Pacific Islands and indigenous communities make up almost half the inmate or parole population in Victoria.

The disturbing rise in ethnic youth offending has been described as a “glaring over-representation” and has given rise to fears of entrenched violence.

The findings, released in the 2016-17 Youth Parole Board annual report, reveal more than 40 per cent of the state’s youth inmates and parolees were from high-offending racial groups.

Africans, mostly from Sudan, represented 12 per cent of the state’s youth criminal population.

Maoris and Pacific Islanders made up 11 per cent and were subject to a three-year rise in custodial sentences issued through the Children’s Court.

“The board remains concerned about the violent nature of the offending for which many of these young people have been found guilty, as well as similar behaviours at times continuing in custody,” the report read.

Almost half the number of youths released on parole had their orders revoked, due to reoffending and breaches, according to the report.

Of the 94 cancellations, 28 youths reoffended on parole, while 66 failed to comply with release conditions.

Formal warnings also jumped 64 per cent over two years.

Minister for Families and Children Jenny Mikakos said the state government had cracked down on misbehaving parolees with strict legislation, and the rise in ethnic youth crime was “unacceptable”. But Opposition spokeswoman Georgie Crozier claimed the government had “lost control”.

“Under Daniel Andrews, young thugs on parole are more likely to commit further crimes, like assault, home invasions and carjackings,” she said.

Figures in the Adult Parole Board annual report showed the highest parole completion in nearly a decade and a 92 per cent drop in serious offences committed by parolees.

The Department of Justice and Regulation annual report shows the work hours completed by offenders on a community corrections order missed the target by 98,000 hours.

Opposition corrections spokesman Edward O’Donohue said: “Criminals continue to thumb their nose at orders by the courts, with the amount of community work undertaken falling short of Daniel Andrews’ own target by a whopping 98,000 hours.”

Corrections Minister Gayle Tierney said: “Completely transforming the Community Corrections system, which was broken by the Liberals, will take time but our overhaul, which came into effect in January, will help keep the community safe.”

“We’ve invested more than $320 million to revamp the system, allowing us to recruit hundreds of new staff to supervise offenders.”

The Victoria Police annual report showed the number of public servant numbers over the past year grew at rate more than three times that of sworn police officers.

Seven new forensics officers and the establishment of a new forensic service delivery model has helped lead to a 40 per cent reduction in the past year for the time it takes to process volume crime fingerprint analysis. The average time is now just over two days.

@AneekaSimonis

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