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

Hit-and-run victim Daniel McNamara’s grieving family have slammed the justice system saying “criminals have more rights than victims.”

The family of alleged hit-and-run victim Daniel McNamara slammed the “failings of the justice system” at a youth crime rally in Moree.

“What are laws without punishment? Useless,” his brother Adam said on Saturday. “Criminals have more rights than victims.”

52-year-old Mr McNamara was killed in a hit-and-run allegedly committed by youth offenders in early February.

The rally aimed to address the dangerous escalation of violent incidents experienced by communities in northern NSW.

“It is abundantly clear the justice system and its failings are breeding a generation of criminals. This needs to change.”

The torrent of crime in recent months prompted locals in a northern NSW town to set up an urgent meeting 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 were invited to the meeting on March 1.

Motorbike rider Daniel McNamara was 52-years-old when he was killed in Gunnedah, a town in north-central NSW.

However, local resident and rally organiser Col Pring expressed his frustration at the list of no-shows and no-replies from senior parliamentary figures.

Several politicians sent their apologies, including the NSW Premier who has agreed to meet with the group, Mr Pring said.

But he criticised the leader of the opposition, Mark Speakman, for not showing up.

“I think it’s pathetic that he’s not here. He’s the leader of the opposition. You want to get back into government? Start working in the community.”

“[In Sydney] recently there have been cars burnt and buildings graffitied. Every politician is up in arms. 

“We’ve been copping it for 20, 30 years and they don’t do anything about it,” Mr Pring said.

“The situation is bad in Moree and is progressively getting worse, with thefts and home invasions,” Mr Pring said.

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?

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

The aim of the rally was to discuss strategies to crime prevention and reduction, support victims of crime and discuss community-based initiatives for rehabilitation and reintegration.

Ms James and Mr Pring organised the Saturday rally where locals shared stories of violent incidents and their desire for change. Picture: Moree Online News

“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.”

It 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.

“The changes aim to tighten the Bail Act so we can take those repeat serious offenders off the streets,” Mr Moylan said on Saturday.

“I’m sick to death of Moree being associated with crime. It’s got to change.”

Following Mr McNamara’s death in February, 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