A recent spate of youth crime across Hastings has pushed fed up residents to the brink, with a planned protest expected to occur outside the Somerville office of Member for Hastings Paul Mercurio on Friday afternoon, 21 February.
They are calling for action as local campaigners spread the word on social media that youth crime was “out of control” and encouraged residents to “make a stand” at the peaceful demonstration that organisers said would run between 4pm to 7pm.
“Improvements in youth crime, unsatisfactory sentencing laws, improvements in policing and other local issues,” one post read.
Over the past few months, residents have witnessed a string of incidents including anti-social behaviour, thefts, vandalism and more – leaving many fuming.
This included youths using fake firearms outside Target at Somerville shopping centre, one of whom pointed to a woman carrying a child; smashed windows in High St, Hastings, including Carpet Court which was reportedly smashed by two kids on a monkey bike; five smashed car windows; two mobile scooters stolen from a mobility shop; and an e-bike stolen from a private property in Hastings.
A burglary also occurred at a supermarket and a car was smashed and stolen on Spring St, while staff were also abused at a McDonald’s restaurant, in which a youth aged between 12 to 14 yelled and threw chairs outside the playground entry, causing a door to jam.
Another resident reported their son’s car being stolen which was essential for work.
In other incidents, bus shelters have been graffitied along Hodgins Rd and two ATMs were damaged earlier this month at the Hastings Commonwealth Bank while a pizza shop was also damaged.
Many residents have come forward expressing their growing frustrations saying it’s “wrong these young kids with no respect and the public scared”, and that offenders were “literally getting away with everything”.
In a statement, Mercurio said he supported the community’s right to protest, but confirmed he wouldn’t be able to attend due to another commitment that was organised four months ago.
“I have extended an invitation to the organiser of the protest, and others, to meet with me to discuss the community’s concerns, an offer that to date has not been accepted,” he said.
“Everyone has the right to live and work safely and anyone who endangers that right must feel the consequences”, he said, adding he was pleased the state government had listened to the community’s concerns about bail laws.
But he added, “It is clear we need to go even further when there are still too many Victorians who don’t feel safe”.
“The Premier has asked the Attorney-General and the Minister for Police to review our current laws, including bail laws.”
Mercurio said he was in regular contact with the local police including since the incident in Somerville earlier this month, noting police did a “fantastic job supporting our community”.
“Victoria Police are out 24/7 holding offenders to account – backed by a record $4.5 billion investment, new powers, and new laws that deliver tougher consequences for serious, repeat offenders which are already making a difference.”
Shadow Police Minister David Southwick said locals in Hastings had “every right to be fed up with Labor’s repeated failure to deal with the young crime crisis their own mismanagement has caused”.
“Not only are Labor’s weak bail laws putting serious offenders back on the street, but Labor has closed the local Hastings Police Station – meaning fewer police resources across the local area,” he said.
“Labor simply isn’t serious about tackling crime. Only a Liberals and Nationals Government will prioritise keeping Victorians safe in their homes, local community and whilst going about their daily lives.”
Victoria Police Mornington Peninsula Local Area Commander Inspector Terry Rowlands said crimes committed by children and youths “continue to be a significant issue across Melbourne’s southeastern suburbs” and police were “doing all we can to keep the community safe”.
“Young offenders continue to be overrepresented in crimes such as home burglaries and car thefts,” he said.
“We have also seen the Mornington Peninsula targeted in recent weeks, with opportunistic offenders preying upon unlocked properties.
Rowlands said Operation Trinity ran across the south-east every night from dusk to dawn, specifically targeting burglars and car thieves.
“Last year alone, Victoria Police committed 140,000 policing hours towards this operation, making almost 1650 arrests,” he said.
“We continue to see these offenders look for the easy option, with as many as 90 per cent of aggravated burglaries in key hotspots due to unlocked doors and windows.
“Please take simple steps such as locking your windows and doors as it dramatically decreases your chance of falling victim.”
