Pleas for knife crime crackdown with hundreds of Vic teens caught up in knife fights

The family of a doctor allegedly slain by two knife-wielding teens is begging for change as police nab hundreds of kids brandishing weapons in Victoria.

At least two kids each day, some as young as 10 years old, are being arrested for carrying or assaulting victims with dangerous weapons.

Crime data released exclusively to the Sunday Herald Sun has revealed 504 kids aged between 10 and 17 years old have assaulted someone with a weapon, such as a knife or box cutter, in the past three years.

Meanwhile, 272 young offenders have been picked up over gun-related crimes.

The number of 15-year-olds arrested over firearms offences almost doubled in that time, up from 17 offenders in 2021 to 30 in the last year up to June.

Almost 1900 kids were arrested for various banned weapons crimes on top of the hundreds of offenders picked up over alleged assaults.

The figures come as a 16-year-old boy took himself to Werribee Hospital with stab wounds on Saturday.

Moments earlier, police had arrested nine people over another slashing in Hoppers Crossing that left a 23-year-old man fighting for life.

A 15-year-old boy is accused of the alleged stabbing murder of 16-year-old Oscar Hamilton. Picture: Supplied

As serious offending by young criminals continues to rise, alleged knife crime at the hands of teenagers has resulted in tragedy.

A 15-year-old boy is accused of the alleged stabbing murder of 16-year-old Oscar Hamilton at Woodgrove Shopping Centre in September.

In January, two 16-year-old boys allegedly stabbed Doncaster Easter doctor Ash Gordon to death during a botched home invasion.

His devastated family is preparing to meet with Victorian MPs next week about their petition for stronger stop and search powers for police and an amendment to the bail act that would make it harder for people who commit crimes while on bail to be released again.

Ash Gordon died in a violent home invasion in Doncaster in January. Picture: Supplied

Natalie Gordon, her partner Hayden Cook, and housemate Tristen spoke about the murder of Ash Gordon at his Doncaster home in January. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Mr Gordon’s sister Natalie Gordon told the Herald Sun the number of kids carrying weapons and using them to assault victims was “baffling”.

“It’s disgusting to think that although time and time again they (kids) are found to be doing the wrong thing, they continue to be cautioned and sent on their way,” she said.

“This leads to devastating results for some, and even if the most unthinkable doesn’t happen, people are still getting injured, their belongings damaged or stolen.

“The general public are scared.”

The crime scene in Ash Gordon’s alleged murder. Picture: Tony Gough

Jesuit Social Services strategic projects leader David Murray said it was a small group of kids committing violent crimes, but they were often known to child protection and dealt with tougher home lives than children living in stable environments and attending school regularly.

“They don’t just decide to pick up knives or machetes out of the blue,” he said.

“They might be engaged with older kids who are already engaged in criminal behaviour.

“We should be intervening when we start to notice red flags in primary school, because schools are critical. Everyone should be at school, so when someone’s not, we need to be more critically engaged and pay attention to this.”

The latest data from the Crime Statistics Agency shows the number of offences committed by children aged between 10 and 17 have soared by 21 per cent, their highest level since 2010.

The most serious offenders, including known youth gang members, burglars and car thieves, were arrested more than 3,150 times last year.

Police have flagged social media as one of the drivers behind some young people carrying weapons and committing other crimes such as break-ins and car thefts to gain notoriety online.

CCTV shows Melbourne convenience store worker Mohammed Panihani, 35, being attacked by teens armed with swords leaving him with lifelong injuries. Picture: 7News

Officers were recently out in force near a Sebastopol skate park in a bid to thwart a potential “mass stabbing” and fight that had circulated among nearby teens on social media.

Last Friday, shocking footage captured two teens armed with swords allegedly attacking 35-year-old Ezi Mart worker Mohammed Panihani on Swanston St in Melbourne’s CBD while demanding cash and cigarettes.

Mr Murray said school and community support for kids at risk of offending needed to better work together as social media becomes the main place where teens talk and chase influence or clout.

“If we have adults who are engaged positively with kids, rather than just running around after them after the event, the chances are that then the use of social media would be less of a problem.”

Police have seized more than 100,000 knives from Victorians in the past decade as they crack down on those supplying them to youths. Supplied: Victoria Police

Two of the knives seized by police. Picture: Victoria Police

Police have seized about 10,400 knives and machetes in the past year, while officers in new Crime Reduction Teams across Melbourne and Geelong have tracked the state’s worst offenders to help steer them away from crime.

Of the 2265 active firearm prohibition orders (FPOs), which ban particular individuals from buying, using or possessing guns, 42 have been served against children.

A Victoria Police spokesman said: “Victoria Police is intent on holding child and youth offenders to account, including those who choose to carry weapons”.

“Where firearms are involved in an incident, often only centimetres decide the deadly consequences.”

The force’s youth gang task force Operation Alliance has arrested 473 known members 1,668 times, with the cohort facing 4,300 charges.

Operation Trinity, which was set up to crack down on car thefts and break-ins across Melbourne’s eastern and southern suburbs, has arrested 673 burglars and car thieves 1,550 times in the past year.

Police are investigating whether Saturday’s stabbings are linked.