Police Minister Anthony Carbines takes a swipe at court system after fatal Burwood crash

Acting Premier Ben Carroll has sensationally backed the current bail conditions for youth offenders, just days after an innocent man was killed by a group of teens on a crime spree in Burwood.

Acting Premier Ben Carroll has appeared to walk back comments made by his colleague, Police Minister Anthony Carbines, who took a swipe at magistrates and cast doubt over whether they were meeting community expectations.

On Thursday, Mr Carbines blindsided the legal sector when he implored the courts to explain their decisions to the Victorian people in the wake of the state’s youth crime crisis.

But one day later Mr Carroll, who is acting Premier while Jacinta Allan takes a week of leave, said he didn’t believe magistrates were too soft on young offenders.

“No. We have some of the strictest bail conditions in the nation. Let’s be clear, no person who is an unacceptable risk should be given bail,” he said when asked if the court system had been too lenient.

“We have to work with our police, we need to make sure they continue to be the most well resourced police in the nation, and we also have to work with our courts.”

Acting Premier Ben Carroll has said he didn’t believe magistrates were too soft on young offenders. Picture: NCA NewsWire

Mr Carbines’ earlier comments were made after an innocent 28-year-old man was struck and killed by a group of youths on a violent crime spree in a Burwood crash.

“That distress is understood by myself, by police, by the government and it needs to be understood and acted on (from) all parts of the justice system,” Mr Carbines said on Thursday.

“It is incumbent on the courts to make sure that repeat serious offenders who are on bail, have that bail revoked. That is the expectation of the government, the parliament and the people of Victoria.”

Shadow Attorney-General Michael O’Brien accused the Allan government of “putting ideology and politics ahead of common sense community safety” when it comes to bail laws.

“They’re listening to everyone who says ‘give them a third chance, a fourth chance, a twelfth chance’,” he said.

“Now innocent Victorians are paying the ultimate price with their lives.

“It’s tragic that it takes the loss of innocent lives before this government even pretends to care about bail laws.”

Mr Carroll said he agreed with Mr Carbines that Victoria Police had been working around the clock to deal with youth offenders.

“I am saying Victoria Police is doing an excellent job day in and day out. The courts are doing the job that they have to do,” he said.

But Mr Carroll said the main focus needed to be on the victims of crime.

“You think of that family flying into Melbourne, the parents of the 28 year old innocent man, that will be traumatic for the rest of that family’s life forever,” he said.

William Taylor, 28, was killed when a Jeep slammed into his Toyota in Burwood. Picture: Nine News

Mr Carbines said the tragedy that unfolded in Burwood on Tuesday evening was “the worst nightmare scenario for many Victorians”.

“Every Victorian is concerned that it can happen to them,” he said.

“I share the deep distress from the community that anyone could go about their business, on their way to work, their way home, and be the victim of a crime that takes their life.”

Mr O’Brien on Friday again took aim at the government’s decision to criticise the courts.

“It’s pretty outrageous for this government to attack judges, to attack magistrates who they appointed when all these judges and magistrates are implementing Labor’s weak bail laws,” he said.

“At the moment, Victoria Police and the courts are fighting with one arm tied behind their back because of weak laws implemented by a weak Labor government.”

Flowers and small handwritten tributes were left at the Burwood intersection where 28-year-old Ashburton man William Taylor was killed in a horror crash.

Passers-by stopped to read over the heartfelt messages left propped up against a power pole at the corner of Warrigal Rd and Highbury Rd on Thursday afternoon.

“Thank you, for letting me know you,” a note from a friend of Mr Taylor’s read.

“Thank you, for all the unforgettable memories. Thank you for embracing me. Thank you, for being you.”

Tributes are left at the scene of a fatal car accident in Burwood. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Another wrote they wished this had “never have happened”.

Surgical gloves, police tape and fragments of shattered glass and plastic are all that remains from the crime scene on Tuesday.

Splintered fencing at the property closest to the collision remains strewn across the ground.

Mr Carbines called on the courts to explain their decisions to the Victorian people and ensure they consider community expectations when they make their considerations.

“We are not keeping young people out of the justice system if they are constantly being arrested and re arrested and brought before the courts,” he said.

“I can simply implore and engage with the courts to play their role in bringing the community with them and to have a confidence to understand the decisions that have been made, and that those decisions are in the best interests of Victorians and the best interests of ensuring those who commit serious offences are held to account.”

Passers-by stopped to read over the heartfelt messages. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Mr Carbines said Victoria Police had repeatedly warned that it was only a matter of time until someone was killed by thugs who had stolen vehicles.

“So often they know that many of the young offenders that they bring to account are well known to them,” he said.

“The government understands that the community is concerned that those repeat offenders continue to cause crimes, and continue to grow their number of victims because they don’t fear the consequences, in many cases, that have been handed out to them.”

Deputy Liberal leader David Southwick slammed the government for blaming others for a crisis he said they caused.

“For the government to turn around and say it’s somebody else’s fault, it’s the courts fault, is absolutely ridiculous,” he said.

“This is a government that has weakened bail laws. The courts can only do what they can do.

A teen has been charged over the crash. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

They’ve been given the laws they have to enforce. When the government weakens the bail laws, how can you expect the courts to do anything other than to let these people back out on bail to reoffend?”

Mr Southwick called on the government to urgently reverse bail laws when parliament returns later this month.

“We can’t have a situation where this government on one hand is weakening bail laws and then blaming the courts for not locking people up,” he said.

“Young people need consequences when they do the kinds of things we’re seeing each and every day.

“How many innocent lives need to be lost before the government actually does something about this? Victorians expect safety first and foremost and that is not happening here in Victoria.”

Victoria Police have said they are aware of about 200 youth offenders, known to officers, who are repeatedly causing havoc on the street.

Mr Carbines described the state’s offender rate as “largely static and flat”.

“What we have is a churn in our offence rate by these young people who are committing repeat offences that leave a trail of victims in their wake, that distress families, that ripple in the community,” he said.

Police have arrested and charged an unlicensed 17-year-old boy accused of killing an innocent man in the crash. Picture: Nadir Kinani

Last month the government introduced a suite of reforms to parliament as part of a youth justice overhaul.

Under the proposed reforms a legislated scheme for warnings, cautions and early diversion will encourage police to avoid charging children, while at the same time electronic monitoring will be legislated as an optional bail condition for troubled kids.

An additional Children’s Court magistrate will also be appointed to help deal with a surge in repeat offending by up to 200 children.

But despite this the government will push ahead with its controversial plans to raise the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 12.

Mr Carbines said there is a “very small cohort” of offenders that fall within that age range, adding he is confident they can be managed.

That legislation is being considered by crossbench and opposition MPs while parliament was on a winter break.

“The justice system is complex. But the justice system must continue to evolve to meet the community’s expectations,” Mr Carbines added.