Youths aren't sneaking into houses to quietly grab car keys and disappearing, they're breaking in with weapons and confronting anyone they find, says our region's top cop.
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Western region commander Assistant Commissioner Andrew Holland spoke at the recent community safety inquiry about the changes he's seen in youth crime.
According to the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, there's been a 10 per cent increase in court proceedings against young people in the past two years.
Assistant Commissioner Holland said youths were no longer committing "small, petty thefts" where they would be cautioned or go into diversion programs. Instead, he said they were breaking into houses with weapons.
"I think there's still a thrill aspect of things. I think there's still a thrill aspect of stealing a motor vehicle and being involved in a pursuit...," Assistant Commissioner Holland said.
"The difference these days, you can't steal a motor vehicle by hot-wiring it like you used to. The only way to get into a motor vehicle these days is to break into a house, get the keys and come out again. Therefore we're seeing the aggravated break and enters."
Assistant Commissioner Holland said in Sydney, the youths were quietly sneaking into houses, grabbing keys and disappearing.
"The kids here seem more prone to going in there with a weapon. If someone takes them on, they'll use the weapon. That's the unfortunate part. I think that's part of the upbringing - a part of the socialisation that they'e brought to. They live a life of violence. They're used to that, and that might be coming through," he said.
The assistant commissioner said he believed there were a group of ringleaders and they were the target of strike force Operational Regional Mongoose.
"Once we take those people out, we notice straight away a drop off in crime in those areas," he said.
Wilcannia Local Aboriginal Land Council chair Michael Kennedy believes the high turnover of police also plays a role.
He said every 12 months to two years the town was seeing new police, nurses and teachers, which made it had to build relationships.
When he was younger, there was a police officer who everyone knew and respected, Mr Kennedy said. After getting into some trouble himself one night, the officer drove him back to the police station.
"I had a few cups of coffee with him. I had a good yarn with him. He took me and dropped me off home and said "I don't want to see you again tonight." I listened to him because I respected him. He built that trust and relationship in the community," Mr Kennedy said.
It's what he wants to see in all police officers.
Wilcannia Local Aboriginal Land Council chair said the police needed to be involved with the community more, even if it was simply going for a walk down the street and having a yarn.
Mr Kennedy said the police needed to understand the historic view of the police by Indigenous people, especially after the Stolen Generation.
"Transgenerational trauma really does exist in our people, because it's been passed down, generation to generation. We still look at the law and DOCS (Department of Community Services) as people that have taken our kids away. Automatically, straightway, there's that barrier there of having that fear of that," he said.
The NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into community safety into regional and rural communities is looking into the drivers of youth crime in the region, as well as specific actions the NSW government can take to support best practice prevention initiatives and improve community safety.
The next hearing will be held in Kempsey.
Orlander Ruming
Writing for Central Western Daily, Daily Liberal and Western Advocate.
