Young people have been responsible for more than 8000 criminal offences in Wyndham over the past decade.
A Crime Statistics Agency (CSA) report into youth offending has found that, statewide, the number of offences committed by people under the age of 25 declined between 2006 and 2015 – except in Wyndham.
In 2006, offenders under 25 accounted for 561 crimes in Wyndham. Last year that statistic jumped to 915 offences.
CSA figures reveal that thefts from vehicles, burglaries and deception were the most common offences committed by young people in Wyndham.
“The most significant increase we have seen is in the 18 to 24 age bracket”
Wyndham police’s Inspector Frank Sells said it was important to realise the city was one of the fastest-growing in the state.
“Offending involving females aged 10 to 14 over the past five years in Wyndham has neither increased nor decreased,” Inspector Sells said.
“For male offending, the increase over five years is less than 100 in total.
“In the 15 to 17 age bracket, overall youth offending has risen about five per cent.”
“The most significant increase we have seen is in the 18 to 24 age bracket.
“Our proactive unit put a lot of time and energy into youth programs to prevent offending in the first place and also to break the cycle of reoffending,” he said.
Youth worker Les Twentyman said early-school leavers and unemployed youths had an increased risk of getting on the wrong side of the law.
Mr Twentyman wanted to see outreach youth workers employed in all Australian schools to know what was happening inside and outside the school gates that may impinge on activities at the school.
“It’s frustrating that we continually see this stuff and nothing gets done about it,” he said.
