Latest developments have exposed the consequences of failing to manage the youth crisis, and a grave deterioration has started to evolve.
The worst possible outcome is the evolution of vigilantism.
Vigilantism as a solution to a crime issue has the enormous risk that rather than quelling lawlessness, it may increase it, with these groups becoming part of the problem rather than solving it.
We have suburbs of Brighton employing private security to improve safety, but now residents on the other side of Melbourne, and in vastly different socio-economic circumstances, in Mambourin Estate near Werribee are indicating they propose to set up patrols from 9:00 pm to 3:00 am when the thugs in the area are most active. The outcome could be a disaster, as there is every likelihood the thugs may decide to assert their strength, leading to bad outcomes.
There would be no doubt that the thugs feel they rule the streets, so they are likely to oppose any challenge to their ‘freedom’. The challenge would be ugly.
Victoria Police need to step in immediately, not with consultative groups, a favoured non-function, but with sufficient resources to proactively patrol the area to give the community the safety they deserve.
If local police were doing their job, they should have known of the growing concerns and taken proactive action before it got to this stage. Another mangemnent failure.
But that is what happens when the Force focuses on reactive functions and is not proactive.
Hi Ivan
Interesting article and very relevant. I note that this not only an issue in Victoria but Nationally. Every state has the same issue.
The current problem solving issue is “let’s form a committee to look at the problems, talkfest and lettuce leaf actions.”
My view is there should be a national task force, the same specific laws for this issue, minimum penalties, specific no bail offences and hard enforcement. This culture needs to be stopped.
The laws regarding people immigrating to this country needs urgent review and Australian citizenship revoked with the offender(and
perhaps families)stripped and sent back to where they came from.
This sounds as if it is a hard action but unless it is undertaken nationally and enforced properly our once great state and country will suffer.
Doug, you have hit the nail right on the head,it used to be called discipline once and I am afraid that has gone out the window nowadays due to soft pollies and supposed leaders.