3AW FOCUS FORUM: Neil Mitchell explores the issue of Youth Crime

The Police Commissioner has raised youth crime as one of the key issues facing Victoria.

Statistics indicate youth crime in Victoria is on the rise, and Neil Mitchell wants to know why.

Neil held a Focus Forum to get to the bottom of the issue.

There has been a sharp spike in offences such as resisting arrest, escaping, and skipping bail, which Neil thinks indicates a lack of respect for authority.

Commissioner Ashton said respect needs to be raised across the board.

‘There’s a societal issue where respect seems to have gone to the back of the queue,’ Mr Ashton said. 

‘We’ve been doing a lot of work with family violence, I think youth is the next conversation we need to have.

Click play to hear the interview with Commissioner Ashton

Police Minister Lisa Neville says keeping juveniles out of detention gives young people the best chance of rehabilitation.

Ms Neville told the Focus Forum locking young people up is not always the best way to deal with the situation.

Click play to hear Lisa Neville’s interview