By Mitchell Clarke
Latrobe MP Jason Wood says investing in a task force which targets violent youth gangs is ‘fantastic for Victoria’.
Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton has directed the Australian Federal Police to investigate violent youth gangs in Melbourne’s south-eastern and western suburbs.
“The best way to take on violent gangs, whether it be an organised crime group, or an outlaw motorcycle gang or even youth gangs, is a joint partnership with the Federal authorities dealing with the States,” Mr Wood said.
“The simple reason is that their focus is to get the two agencies with all the resources and skills together to not only take on the serious crime groups, but also those violent youth gangs.”
Mr Wood said youth gangs have the potential to cause fear within the community, making reference to frequent incidents in his suburbs of Beaconsfield, Berwick, Pakenham and Narre Warren.
“There’s no leadership, they’re spontaneous, they can be driving down the street and they can just target a house for a home invasion or a carjacking,” he said.
“We need that extra focus, and I’m absolutely wrapped that we can have the NAGS taskforce actually dealing with violent youth gangs anywhere in Melbourne.”
Mr Wood has been a driving force in bringing the task force into action, putting the policy together in 2010.
“The major concern I have is Victorian gang crime is increasing and can potentially move across jurisdictions most likely through the adult prison system and the Australian Federal Police will need to take a more active role,” he said.
“The most important issue is simply the vast majority of the Victorian community are desperate to see action and are living in fear of being a victim.”
