The Nationals are demanding answers on a youth crime prevention program that has failed to materialise after being promised by the Allan Government two years ago.
Speaking in state parliament, The Nationals’ Melina Bath called on Labor’s Minister for Police to reveal when the Youth Crime Prevention and Early Intervention Program (YCPEIP) program will commence in Latrobe Valley.
YCPEIP was to be expanded into Dandenong, Frankston, Geelong, Latrobe, Mildura and Shepparton to address the rise incident of youth crime in 2024.
Proven to work in metropolitan Melbourne, the program aims to reduce the rate of offending and reoffending amongst young people through a police, legal and youth service provider partnership.
Ms Bath said this is the second time she has requested a response from Labor on the expansion of YCPEIP into Latrobe Valley, having written to the Minister six months ago without a response.
“Youth crime in the Latrobe Valley remains high, increasing by 6.7 percent over the past year and placing the region sixth in the state with 844 alleged incidents.
“The Allan Government scrapped all other youth crime intervention and diversion programs to save money, and our community is suffering the consequences.
“Fixing the youth crime crisis requires not only deterrence and punishment, but also preventing crime by supporting at‑risk individuals to make better choices through discipline, education, counselling and community support.”
Member for Morwell, Martin Cameron said The Nationals have been consistently fighting for safer communities, so residents feel secure in their homes, safe at the shops and on the streets.
“Many in our community are living in fear. Lawlessness is at crisis levels, crime is impacting every aspect of our lives, yet Labor has left our hardworking police under resourced and underfunded.
“Labor cut the state’s youth diversion programs, refused to introduce Jack’s Law, weakened bail laws and failed to restore move-on powers.
“Only a change in government in November will deliver a justice system that protects residents by cracking down on perpetrators offenders and reinstating prevention programs.”
