Youth bail laws impact not yet clear, as 44 youths arrested since May
Police Minister Nicole Manison was unable to say how many recidivists were allowed bail under new laws which came into effect last month.
Northern Territory
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IT’S unclear whether new youth bail laws are helping to crack down on recidivism, more than a month after being introduced.
NT Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker revealed that 44 youths had been arrested since the amended laws targeting youth crime came into force on May 14.
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Included in those figures were 17 youths who had been arrested on 27 occasions for breaching electronic monitoring curfews to commit an offence.
Another 13 youths were arrested for serious breaches of bail and 14 for breaching curfews while under electronic monitoring.
In NT estimates on Monday, the NT government could not say how many of the 44 youths were repeat offenders.
Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro said that she was concerned about whether the new youth bail laws were working.
“The fact the minister couldn’t answer overall how many youths have been bailed after being arrested whilst on bail – since Labor’s changes came into force – suggests the figures aren’t politically flattering or that the government isn’t keeping track,” Ms Finocchiaro said.
“It appears the revolving door of bail hasn’t even been slowed down by these new laws.”
It follows recent comments from Territory Families Minister Kate Worden, who said the new youth bail laws could take 18 months to reduce youth crime rates.
An NT government spokesman said the new laws would hold offenders to greater account.
“If a young person commits a serious breach of bail, their bail will be revoked and they will be taken into remand,” the spokesman said.
“We are tackling crime with more police resources than ever before, more consequences for offenders, and more investment in youth to stop them turning to crime.”
The new laws, which passed in May, were criticised by activists for potentially trapping youth into a life of crime.
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