AN INDIGENOUS leader has called for an overhaul to the Young Offender's Act because his sister, who suffers from renal failure, continues to be relentlessly terrorised by juvenile gangs.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Greg Packer made the explosive claim that cops “no showed” when his 63-year-old sister was being harassed by kiddie crims because their hands were tied by a contentious legal framework.
His sister, who lives in Raye Street, Tolland, has rapidly deteriorated in health due to her constant fears of a home invasion.
The ailing home-owner has had her property pelted with rocks, her windows rattled and her doors kicked in on six separate occasions.
“She’s on her dialysis machine and living alone so it horrifies her and stresses her beyond belief when they target her,” Mr Packer said.
“These kids are between 8 and 13 years old and they’re roaming the streets in gangs.”
The unsuccessful council candidate has alleged police ignored their pleas for help.
He said officers gave up hope on trying to apprehend the offenders because they were essentially “invincible” under the Young Offender’s Act.
“They attacked her again on Wednesday and the police didn’t even bother coming out,” he said.
But Acting Superintendent Andrew Spliet vehemently denied police would fail to attend a call-out without a significant reason.
“When people call, we have an electronic system that obligates us to attend that job and keeps all relevant records,” he said.
“If there are members of the public who are dissatisfied with the service of police, we urge them to contact the station so we can follow it up.
“We want to track down the young people who are committing these offences and if there’s action that can be taken, we’ll take it.”
The controversial legal framework that gives kids and teens cautions and steers them away from the courts has been blamed for an “influx of teen gangs”.
Under the law, there is a “rebuttable presumption” that a child aged less than 14 is “incapable” of committing a criminal act.
Lake Albert’s Paul Rava, who had his car stolen and set ablaze one month ago, fears youth crime will soon drive people from Wagga.
“Many of us have well and truly lost faith and trust in the community and the legal system,” he said. “These kids get a slap on the wrist and the next day they're back on the streets.”