Page 538 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 21 February 2012
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It also stands to reason that, if you want to prevent crime, young people are critical. In fact, they are the linchpin. Another element to add to the mix is that crime is often transgenerational—that is, children of offenders are more likely to offend themselves. The programs and services provided by and through the Justice and Community Safety Directorate focus on offenders and their families. Cycles of offending continue unless we do something to break the cycles of vulnerability and disadvantage, and, once again, young people are central in this.
I would like to speak briefly today about the specific and important elements the government is putting in place through its policies to tackle issues relating to crime and young people and, in particular, those at risk and those who have already offended.
The government operates its criminal justice system incorporating justice reinvestment principles, using evidence-based approaches to criminal justice involving three elements: firstly, an analysis of the causes of crime and incarceration; secondly, the implementation of targeted policies and programs to address these causes, such as prevention and diversion; and, thirdly, an evaluation of the impact of these measures to inform future work.
Through justice reinvestment a small reduction in recidivism can result in significant improvements in community safety, contributing to enhancing the community’s confidence in the criminal justice system. The government will continue to look at how we can further incorporate justice reinvestment approaches into the criminal justice system.
Let me turn now to the issue of property crime, which is, regrettably, an issue that continues to require significant attention. As I said in opening, young people are more likely to commit property crime than any other crime, or more than any other demographic of people here in the ACT. The government has prioritised the development of a whole of government ACT property crime reduction strategy to address property crime rates in the territory.
This strategy, which will be finalised shortly, sees young people as key to this type of offence, and so it has a strong youth focus. The property crime reduction strategy embodies the government’s commitment to build on and cement the achievements of ACT Policing, which have been highlighted in the 2010-11 crime figures compared to previous years.
Let us just look at the achievements to date in terms of identifying offenders and taking action to reduce crime types. In the past 12 months motor vehicle theft offences have declined by 37.3 per cent. That translates to 776 fewer offences in the 12 months to June 2011 compared to the 12 months to June 2010—776 fewer motor vehicles stolen because of that work.
Let us look at burglary offences. They have declined by 32.4 per cent over the last 12 months. That translates to 1,683 fewer offences in the 12 months to June 2011
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