维多利亚州儿童和年轻人专员委员会发布报告，指控多名10至14岁的少年犯罪者遭警察殴打、掐喉和威胁[1]。报告指出，2022年至2023年期间获释的10至16岁青少年中超过一半在不到一年内再次犯罪[1]。
专员特蕾西·比顿表示，"强硬对付犯罪不一定是我们认为会改变或创造社区安全的策略"[1]。报告建议政府放弃强硬犯罪政策，恢复原计划将刑事责任年龄提高至14岁，并建议对该年龄段儿童采取支持服务为主的替代应对系统[1]。然而，新上任总理本·卡罗尔表示将继续前总理杰辛塔·艾伦政府的强硬立场，该政府曾引入立法允许儿童因严重犯罪被判终身监禁[1]。
Victoria's Commissioner for Children and Young People has released a report documenting allegations that young offenders aged 10 to 14 were punched, choked, and threatened by police [1]. The investigation revealed widespread concerns about law enforcement practices toward this vulnerable population.
The report presents stark data on youth reoffending rates, with over half of offenders aged 10 to 16 released between 2022 and 2023 reoffending within less than a year [1]. Commissioner Tracy Beaton stated that "toughening up on crime is not necessarily a strategy we believe will change or create community safety," challenging the government's current approach [1]. The report recommends that the government abandon its tough-on-crime policies in favor of preventative measures [1].
The findings come at a time of policy tension. The previous government under Jacinta Allan introduced legislation permitting children to receive life sentences for serious crimes [1]. However, the report calls for the government to reinstate a previously planned reform to raise the age of criminal responsibility to 14 [1]. Victoria Police have suggested implementing an alternative response system emphasizing support services for children under 14 rather than criminal prosecution [1]. Despite these recommendations, the newly appointed Prime Minister Ben Carroll has indicated the government will continue the previous administration's hardline stance [1].