More focus should be placed on early intervention programs. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
Growing community concern about youth crime in rural and regional NSW is fuelled by “sensationalist” media coverage when property crime rates are actually falling, according to a NSW Parliamentary report.
The Legislative Assembly Committee on Law and Safety (LACLS) concluded that newspaper and TV reporting suggesting a youth crime “crisis” was “at odds with publicly available data”.
The inquiry highlighted Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) data which showed property crime in regional NSW, which includes breaking and entering, motor vehicle theft and stealing from retail stores, houses, persons and more, has fallen over the past two decades leading up to 2023.
However, most people think that crimes is increasing and the inquiry felt media were to blame for this, suggesting sensationalist reporting “vilifies” young people and creates a “moral panic”.
It was further argued that this impedes their reintegration into the community and the narrative “dehumanises” and overlooks the underlying causes behind anti-social behaviour and youth offending for young people aged between 10 and 17.
The inquiry heard evidence that sensationalised media reporting created pressure for governments to employ policies with ‘tough-on-crime’ measures like harsher bail laws and sentencing, rather than focusing on intervention, prevention and rehabilitation.
Mayor Rick Firman wants more money invested in youth mental health services. Photo: Supplied.
Temora Mayor Rick Firman said he wants the focus to be on support services to stop young people offending in the first place.
“The report notes a 2015 survey conducted by Youth Justice which found that 83 per cent of young people in custody had at least one psychological disorder,” Temora Mayor Rick Firman said.
“The lack of mental health services across the board in remote, rural and regional NSW is of significant concern to [regional mayors].
“It is concerning to think a lack of investment in mental health professionals and support services could be one of the drivers of youth crime.”
Mission Australia Far West NSW Team Lead Erin Reberger highlighted the link between drug use and crime.
“It’s actually quite scary if I’m being honest. A lot of the young people are experimenting with substances like cocaine and ketamine,” she said.
“That’s really big in our area. They’re both really heavy-duty substances that, combined together, can be quite fatal.”
The report did, however, concede that some categories of crime have risen in regional NSW: motor vehicle theft by 20 per cent; non-domestic violence-related assault (up 14 per cent); sexual assault (up 47 per cent); and domestic violence (DV – up 24 per cent). It also stated that young crimes was higher in regional NSW than in Sydney.
The number of young women charged with DV is also growing, making up 13 per cent of DV cases in regional NSW.
LACLS made several recommendations, including prioritising funding early intervention programs by Aboriginal community controlled organisations (ACCOs). While only making up 8 per cent of the population, more than half of the young people in custody were Aboriginal.
Other recommendations include the need for responsible journalism that ensures information is factual and considers the impact these narratives have on the community, as well as stronger media guidelines around crime reporting.
The LACLS will come out with a second report focusing on policies and reforms, and has called for a response from the proper authorities by 11 November.
