Police officers have proactively visited 362 recidivists a total of 1275 times

Victoria Police’s crime reduction teams are targeting repeat ­“extreme” offenders to stop young thugs from forming and joining gangs.

Almost half of the repeat ­“extreme” offenders being watched under a new statewide police crackdown are children.

Of the 362 people being monitored by new Victoria Police crime reduction teams, 166 are under 18.

The CRTs are working on offenders with extensive records for crimes such as burglary, assault and car theft.

The Herald Sun revealed in July that the CRTs had been assembled to restrict and ­redirect recidivists responsible for a large proportion of crime.

There are 166 youths being watched under the new police crackdown. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Victoria Police rate those under scrutiny as the most extreme offenders in their areas.

Teams at Brimbank/Melton, Dandenong/Casey/Cardinia and Forest Hill manage the highest number.

The most child offenders are in Dandenong/Casey/Cardinia, Frankston/Mornington Peninsula and Hume/Moonee Valley/Merri-Bek.

In its first two months, officers have proactively visited 362 recidivists a total of 1275 times – an average of 20 daily.

The most ‘extreme’ offenders are under scrutiny by police. Picture: Instagram

Most visits have been at home but police have also ­attended appointments subjects have with social services.

CRT officers have carried out 500 bail compliance checks and made referrals to support services involved in drug and alcohol counselling and ­rehabilitation, health care, ­employment and education.

A key role of the teams is to divert offenders into positive activity.

Officers identified five teenagers police feared would form a gang after a rise in youth crime mostly confined to one Geelong suburb.

CRT officers have carried out 500 bail compliance checks.

The key influencer of that group was arrested twice in quick succession, after which he was reintroduced to the school system to encourage his ambition to become a tradesman.

Police say the 15-year-old’s offending has stalled and ­another boy in his crew has also returned to the classroom.

During regular engagement with a boy in Melbourne’s southeast, officers found a large machete in his possession and that he had been present at a stabbing in the area.

While the boy was not the primary offender, he had a video of the stabbing that police were able to use to make arrests and remand others.

Another boy, who went on to reoffend near Geelong in ­another case, told prison staff he had “disappointed and let down” his CRT officer and had since returned to school.

Acting Assistant Commissioner Therese Fitzgerald said the goal was to stop people committing crime and ensure they contributed to society.

“We’ve already had some early success, with police helping several offenders re-engage with school, move suburbs to distance themselves from negative influences and seek support for mental health and substance abuse,” she said.

“However, sadly there are also a significant number of people who show no interest in engaging and keep reoffending. Those who want to show a blatant disregard for community safety are being given zero room to move.”

Originally published as Police officers have proactively visited 362 recidivists a total of 1275 times