Allan government calls emergency meeting to address state’s youth crime crisis, lawlessness

Bail laws that are seeing Victorian teenagers released into the community after being caught by police for crimes will be among issues addressed at an emergency meeting, called by the Allan government.

The Allan government has called an emergency meeting to address the state’s youth crime crisis, as it attempts to address widespread anger in the community over lawlessness and bail laws.

As concerns grow over teens committing crimes, being caught and then released on bail, the government will meet to look at what law changes, enforcement or interventions are needed to fix the crisis.

The meeting on Wednesday follows the bailing of a teenage boy on Friday who was charged over the hit-and-run death of 28-year-old Will Taylor.

The teenager was charged with culpable and dangerous driving causing death, unlicensed driving, theft of a motor vehicle and failing to stop and render assistance with bail being granted despite Mr Taylor’s family and police’s pleas he be held in custody.

Burwood fatal hit-run victim William Taylor. Picture: Victoria Police

Tributes for William Taylor. Picture: Mark Stewart

The Sunday Herald Sun can reveal Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes and Police Minister Anthony Carbines will meet with Victoria Police, legal experts and youth workers to discuss what more can be done to respond to the crisis.

It is understood police are concerned about the ease with which offenders are being given bail and how young criminals are using the doli incapax rule that means they cannot be held criminally responsible for their actions.

The meeting will also look at whether proposed laws – set out in the government’s Youth Justice Bill – can be brought forward.

Last month the government introduced to parliament a suite of reforms that Premier Jacinta Allan said would reduce youth offending.

At the time Ms Allan said the major overhaul struck a balance between slapping the state’s worst young offenders with harsher consequences, while also intervening early to get kids on the right path in life.

Police Minister Anthony Carbines. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

A key feature of that legislation will be slapping ankle bracelets on kids as an alternative to bail.

But the government has vowed to push ahead with its controversial plans to raise the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 12, despite community outrage.

A government spokesman on Saturday evening said a meeting had been planned.

“We’re bringing together government, Victoria Police, legal and youth experts to discuss what more can be done to increase community confidence and ensure we are meeting community expectations – across all levels of the justice system,” he said.

“We are always considering ways to keep the community safe, hold perpetrators to account and deliver greater support for victims.

“Our thoughts are with all victims of crime and their voices are crucial in shaping our work.”

The government has come under fire for its response to the tragic death of Mr Taylor, who was innocently struck and killed by a stolen car driven by a group of youths.

On Friday night, the 17-year-old charged with driving the car was freed after a magistrate rejected a family and police request for bail to be refused. The magistrate also refused a police request for physical examination of the teen’s injuries and said there was “no admissible evidence” he was in the allegedly stolen car.

Police had said they identified the boy through CCTV footage and phone data.

The meeting on Wednesday comes after Police Minister Carbines blindsided the court system by spectacularly casting doubt over whether magistrates were meeting community expectations.

The Burwood intersection where William Taylor was killed. Picture: Mark Stewart

The Police Minister said officers were working around the clock to arrest young offenders and implored the courts to explain their decisions to the Victorian people.

But former Victorian chief magistrate Nick Papas KC hit back, saying magistrates had a tough job where their decisions are bound by the law.

“To suggest that the courts are at fault is completely farcical,” Mr Papas said about Mr Carbines comments.

“I’m disappointed that a minister of the state would attack the courts when he should be focusing on the laws that the current government of which he is a member has passed.”

Deputy Liberal leader David Southwick said the government is “literally sitting on their hands and doing nothing” on youth crime.

“Labor can’t manage our youth justice system and innocent people are being killed,” he said.

”This government is on another planet if they think they’re doing a good job.”

Originally published as Allan government calls emergency meeting to address state’s youth crime crisis, lawlessness