Youths allegedly punched, choked and threatened by police, report reveals

Young people aged 10 to 14 in Victoria, Australia, have reported experiencing physical and verbal assaults by police officers while in custody, according to a new report. The findings, detailed in a report by the Commission for Children and Young People, highlight instances of alleged punching, choking, and threats, including one case where a teenage boy claimed an officer slammed him against a wall and another where a 13-year-old reported an officer holding a gun to his head.

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A wealth of literature and expert opinion indicates that early contact with the criminal justice system does not reduce subsequent offending, but rather escalates offending, and can be associated with poorer long-term outcomes for children and young people.

The report, tabled in state parliament, suggests that the current hardline approach to youth crime is not effective, as most children supervised by Youth Justice over the past three years have gone on to re-offend. Many young individuals stated that their negative experiences with authorities have intensified their violent tendencies and made them less receptive to help or reintegration into their communities.

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Tough on crime is not necessarily the commentary that we think will change or create community safety.

Commissioner for Children and Young People, Tracy Beaton, urged the Victorian government to shift from a "criminal justice" response to a preventative strategy for young offenders. "Tough on crime is not necessarily the commentary that we think will change or create community safety," Beaton told ABC News. She emphasized that the inquiry aims to encourage the government and community to implement evidence-based programs that enhance community safety and reduce recidivism, offering better opportunities for these young people.

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What we want with this inquiry is for community and government to look at the evidence and actually implement programs that we know will improve community safety and also reduce recidivism and create a much better opportunity for these kids.

Data from the report indicates that early contact with the criminal justice system often escalates offending and leads to poorer long-term outcomes. The report analyzed the histories of 26 young people who first encountered the law before age 14, finding that supervised bail orders were the most common initial contact. Nine of these children were remanded on their first offense, and 12 were remanded before turning 14. Recent data also shows that over half of 10 to 16-year-olds released from youth justice supervision between 2022 and 2023 re-offended within a year.

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In essence, somebody needs to talk to the kids, and it has to happen way before offending behaviours start.