By Holly McGuinness
The Victorian Government has announced it will be funding a new youth crime prevention pilot in the Western suburbs that will cover the Brimbank area as an attempt to keep youths out of the justice system and reduce reoffending.
It will include additional training to Victorian operational police officers working in the field to ensure they are better equipped to deal with youth offenders. The training will include cultural awareness training, how to support at-risk youth, assistance to make an appropriate referral and additional guidelines for considerations of cautions and diversions.
The pilot is a diverse collaboration between Westjustice, Victoria Police, Victoria Legal Aid, The Youth Support + Advocacy service along with other youth services across the West.
Phase one of the eligibility process for the program will assist with criminal matters regarding 10-17 year olds and phase two is directed at 18-24 year olds in the Brimbank area.
The program will see youths and children referred from police to youth services in an effort to provide them with additional support through early and repetitive intervention relating to crime including education sessions on when and how to receive help.
