MORE than 1300 young Hume residents have been arrested for committing crimes across 12 months, with assault, shoplifting, property damage and carrying weapons among the top offences.
Figures provided to Star by Victoria Police show there were 1315 people aged under 19 years old who were processed in the area, during the 2009-2010 financial year.
More than 230 young people were arrested for assault, while 187 were charged with 'theft (shop steal)' and 105 for property damage.
Another 94 teenagers and young adults were caught carrying weapons or explosives, while 78 Hume youngsters were arrested for drug use or possession.
Alarmingly, 27 youths were arrested for rape and 51 on sex (non-rape) charges.
More than 90 young people from Hume were charged with stealing motor vehicles, 66 for other types of theft, 58 took part in burglaries, 44 carried out robberies, 37 were charged with handling stolen goods, 36 stole from cars and 30 were arrested for deception.
Another 18 young people were arrested for arson, 17 for cultivating, manufacturing or trafficking drugs and 21 on 'behaviour in public' offences.
Glenroy-based Youth Projects, a not-for-profit organisation based in Glenroy which provides “health, outreach, community and employment, education and training services” across the northern suburbs aims to “identify an individual's problems and provide programs that help steer them on a better path in life”.
Chairperson Melanie Raymond, said a disadvantaged family background, unemployment, academic difficulties, substance abuse and going in and out of foster care could “contribute to behaviours which may end up falling outside of the law”.
“Poverty, homelessness, poor literacy and substance abuse are prevalent issues faced by many of the young people we work with in Broadmeadows,” she said.
“Lack of parental support, expulsion from school and prior neglect are also contributing factors.
“Trying to break the cycle is extremely challenging and takes a lot of time and patience.”
Ms Raymond said “re-offending is common among a small number of youth offenders who are responsible for a high number of offences”.
“Research shows that with the right support, youth offenders will be less likely to re-offend as they mature,” she said.
“The greatest influences will be their access to employment and job skills and their level of engagement at school.”
“Keeping young people out of the justice systems limits contact with criminals and can prevent a criminal record, that makes moving on difficult.”
Star Hume 28 June 2011. See article here.
