State election 2018: Matthew Guy pledges tough love for teen thugs

Teen criminals would be sent packing to a 12-week military-style boot camp with mandatory exercise drills and graffiti removal day trips if Matthew Guy wins the election.

Teen criminals would be sent packing to a 12-week military-style boot camp with mandatory exercise drills and graffiti removal day trips if Matthew Guy wins the election.

The Sunday Herald Sun can reveal the “tough love” pilot program would be established under a Liberal-­National government for lower-level offenders who are at a crossroads and need discipline.

In a bid to break the cycle of repeat offending, Mr Guy said Children’s Court magistrates would get the power to send nonviolent teens to the camp instead of sentencing them to youth justice centres.

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Former police and military officials will help design and oversee the program, which would be for up to 50 children at a time, including at what age at-risk children should be eligible.

Offenders would have to grow food and cook meals, learn trades such as carpentry, and participate in team sports such as football and cricket.

A Liberal-­National government would bring in a ‘tough-love’ pilot program for lower-level offenders who are at a crossroads and need discipline. Picture: Getty Images

Mr Guy said this would “instil the values of discipline, honesty and respect into youth offenders to get them back on the right path”.

“This is for those kids that need some tough love and the importance of values to help them get back in control of their lives,” he said.

“This will not happen in a ‘soft touch’ environment that makes excuses and sets low expectations.”

Some of the offences likely to attract the orders could be theft and vandalism.

The $5 million two-year pilot program would begin in 2020, and be complemented by expanding existing Victoria Police diversion programs and community youth camps.

Community service would be included “in recognition of paying back a debt to society”, and could include graffiti clean-up daytrips or litter clean-ups at parks and beaches.

A 6am wake-up call would kickstart group exercise sessions, while literacy and numeracy classes would be included.

Opposition families and children spokeswoman Georgie Crozier. Picture: Josie Hayden

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The Coalition says teens would maintain the grounds, a greenhouse, and fruit and vegetable gardens.

Opposition families and children spokeswoman Georgie Crozier said there have been 6880 alleged crimes by 15-19 year-olds in the past two years and 40 per cent of those youths were re-offending within just two years.

“More of the same failed Labor policies and excuses won’t fix the youth justice crisis,” she said.

During the three-month stay, teens would have to attend presentations from victims and victims’ groups about the “devastating first-hand impacts of crime”, the Coalition policy says.

Children’s Court orders would include that any participants who break camp rules would be sent to a youth justice centre.

The tough love approach is the latest plank in the Coalition’s youth justice policy, which also includes a police in schools program and “gang-busting” anti-consorting laws to give police powers to ban teens from mixing with gang members.

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