Victorian top cop calls for police to be given new powers to arrest youth offenders as young as 10
Amid a steep rise in youth crime, one of the nation’s top cops has called for more police powers to be installed so that officers can arrest young offenders aged between 10 and 13.
Victoria Police Commissioner Shane Patton believes that his force should be able to arrest children as young as 10, to target particularly problematic individuals and repeat offenders, when the age of criminal responsibility is lifted to 14 in a few years’ time.
Back in April, the state government voted to lift the criminal age of responsibility from 10 to 12, with a second rise due to take place in 2027.
Many criticised the move at the time, claiming that 12 is still too young for children to be held legally accountable.
But Patton says the state must do more to target underage offenders, and he believes detaining children under 14 could play a vital part in that.
He said he held concerns over dangerous trends emerging among the state’s youth, and particularly called for increased powers to be given when a child poses a risk to the community.
Officers need to have the ability to stop children suspected of carrying weapons or drugs, or driving at high speed, and to be able ask their name and age, Patton said.
“This isn’t about putting kids in the cells,” he said, per The Herald Sun.
“There’ll be a victim of crime but the child won’t be able to be held accountable at law.
“We’re just really worried we’re going to have some young kid who is driving at speed on a freeway who is involved in a multiple fatality that they’ve caused.”
The force had approached the Andrews government about granting the new powers after the crime responsibility age shifts, Patton added.
Political commentator Scott Emerson said it’s important police are afforded some extra authority before the situation escalates beyond control.
“Police are worried about the lifting of the age of criminal responsibility to 14,” Emerson said on Weekend Today.
“Here in Queensland, for instance, the state government says it’s got no plans to lift it from the 10 years.
“We know juvenile crime is a problem around Australia and there are severe hotspots.
“The police are scratching their heads, what are they going to do with these kids? They’re worried they won’t be able to do anything with them, if they’re under the age of criminal responsibility.
“This is for the police commissioner, he is trying to say give us at least some capacity to deal with these juvenile thugs that may be out of control but under the age of criminal responsibility.”
Premier Daniel Andrews flagged back in February that he planned to bring legislation before parliament to raise the age.
It would bring Victoria in line with the Northern Territory and the ACT, which have both committed to raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility above 10 years.
But the change has since been slammed by medical authorities, legal experts and Indigenous organisations, who say the move to 12 doesn’t go far enough.
“Children under 14 years may not have the level of maturity and cognitive function to be considered criminally responsible,” RACP president and paediatrician Dr Jacqueline Small said in April.
