Residents urge government to act on youth crime in Moree, NSW

A town’s residents are pleading to be “heard” after a wave of youth crime has left many in the community fearful for their safety.

A torrent of youth crime has prompted locals in a northern NSW town to set up an urgent meeting with authorities to address the dangerous escalation in violence.

Members from both sides of state and federal politics, Moree Plains Shire councillors and senior officers from NSW Police have been invited to the meeting on March 1 in Moree.

“It’s statewide, and national wide, but the situation is bad in Moree and is progressively getting worse, with thefts and home invasions,” meeting organiser and local resident Col Pring said.

Moree councillor Kelly James and local resident Col Pring say crime is getting worse in Moree. Picture: Moree Online News

He added that the local community felt “scared” and “worried about what other people might do”.

”People are wondering, will they be the next one to have a home invasion? Will their car be stolen? Will they be bashed in their own home?” Mr Pring said

“It’s not going to change overnight, but we want to get the wheels rolling at least.”

The meeting’s aim is to discuss strategies to crime prevention and reduction, support victims of crime and discuss community-based initiatives for rehabilitation and reintegration.

“In our little group who have organised this, it’s only half a dozen of us. We don’t have a political agenda. We just what’s best for our community,” Mr Pring said.

“We want to be heard and we want to see change.”

The meeting also aims to support the Regional Youth Crime Reform Bill pushed by Northern Tablelands MP Brendan Moylan in parliament last week.

The Bill proposes key changes to support stronger bail laws for serious repeat juvenile offenders and requires courts to place greater weight on the impact on the victim when sentencing an offender.

Motorbike rider Daniel McNamara was killed in an alleged hit and run in Gunnedah, a town in north-central NSW.

The urgent calls for reform comes a week after the home of Moree woman Joy Cunningham, 95, was burnt down in an aged care facility.

Earlier this month, Daniel McNamara, 52, was allegedly hit and killed by three teenagers from Moree in a stolen ute.

Following Mr McNamara’s death, NSW Premier Chris Minns announced an additional $2m in funding to address the crime issue.

“These are very challenging times for Moree … we have not made the inroads we had hoped to have made when it comes to persistent reoffending,” Mr Minns said.

”We are making a decision to put in unprecedented resources both for police, bail accommodation and support services.”

Mr Minns also announced an extension to bail laws that made it harder for repeat offenders to be released from custody while going through court.

“It’s clear that the police have been able to identify, arrest and put before the courts individuals, often young, people who are accused of very serious crimes,” Mr Minns said in February.

Originally published as Residents urge government to act on youth crime in Moree, NSW