Victoria is grappling with an unprecedented crime crisis, with children at the centre of the surge. According to the latest official data, about 1,100 children aged between 10 and 17 were arrested more than 7,000 times in the past year — averaging at least six arrests per child.
This group has been blamed for over 60 per cent of home invasions, nearly half of all aggravated burglaries, and at least 20 per cent of car thefts. Vehicle thefts alone jumped 42 per cent, marking the highest level in more than 20 years.
Overall crime in Victoria rose by 14 per cent, while family violence hit another record high with more than 106,000 reports. Retail crime also surged 27 per cent, with shop workers facing increasingly frequent assaults.
Deputy Commissioner Bob Hill described the situation as “unprecedented,” citing a “perfect storm” of factors including the rising cost of living, drug demand, the fallout of Covid lockdowns, and persistent repeat offenders. He expressed concern over the escalation of violent crime, pointing to the machete killing of two teenage boys in Cobblebank earlier this month.
Victoria’s new Chief Commissioner, Mike Bush — parachuted in from New Zealand in June amid a police leadership crisis — has pledged a major overhaul. He set an ambitious target of cutting crime by five per cent annually, with reforms to be unveiled in October. His plan will focus on prevention, youth diversion, and stronger cooperation with social services to keep children out of the criminal system.
Hill stressed the need for a systemic approach, closer agency collaboration, and tougher bail enforcement, as almost 10,500 offenders breached bail conditions in the past year — the highest figure in a decade.
