Police crackdown on youth crime

Commander of Central North Police District, Superintendent Andrew Hurst. Photo TWH

Bourke police are employing a raft of strategies to stem the rising rate of youth crime in the town.

Commander of Central North Police District, Superintendent Andrew Hurst, said police were trying to determine what was driving the increase in criminal behaviour.

“In the last four weeks we have seen an increase in crime, with really young kids who weren’t known to police getting involved in anti-social activities and petty crime like rock throwing, through to more serious crime like stealing a motor vehicle or breaking into a home,” he said.

“Behind the scenes over the past seven days police have been involved in legal sanctions against young people, instigating cautions available to police through to the Young Offenders Act for those who don’t have a history of committing crime, to those at the other level, where we have taken action and charged or bail-refused young people for serious crime allegations.

“One young person was bail-refused until February next year when he faced Bourke Children’s Court on serious charges this week.

“Every offence involves someone being victimised, their life disrupted and their property interfered with,” Superintendent Hurst said.

“Police have engaged widely with stakeholders at the PCYC and at the Maranguka Justice Re-investment to try and effect service delivery to these youths and their families.

“Some need greater support to push them out of the criminal justice system,” he said.

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