It’s really concerning to hear a retired police officer was allegedly attacked while trying to stop teenagers shoplifting. While there’s a need to address these behaviours, investment in services which prevent offences occurring are the solution, not ineffective tough on crime approaches that just lock people up.
The Greens back the words of Former Chief Magistrate Michael Hill on ABC Radio. No one can deny the need for action to address serious offences involving youth, but tough on crime approaches that just lock young people up do not work. Rather than focusing on locking young people up, the Liberal Government should be focusing on preventing crimes occurring in the first place.
There is a clear connection between family violence, living in out of home care, homelessness, mental health problems, drug abuse, poor education and disability and young people engaging in criminal behaviour. The Liberal Government are failing to properly address every one of these issues.
The reality is, tough on crime approaches do not stop young people committing offences. Locking young people up just pushes them towards more crime, potentially leading to a lifetime in and out of prison. All the Liberal Government’s tough on crime approach is doing is creating overcrowded prisons.
The Liberals need to get serious about addressing the causes of crime and invest in support for at-risk youth. They must act to ensure children and young people are safe from family violence, have secure housing, can access mental health support and drug and alcohol treatment, and have the resources and support they need to be safe and healthy. Anything less fails Tasmanian young people.
Right now, the Liberal Government are cutting jobs and services across the state. This will only make things worse, when young people already need more care and support.
“Tough on crime” policies contradict the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry. The number of young people in prison simply shouldn’t be increasing. Where children do face justice, it should be therapeutic and trauma informed.
The Liberals must do better for Tasmanian young people. To turn this around, the Liberal Government must properly invest in services that address the needs of young people and prevent crime occurring.
