Yasmin Catley
Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism
Minister for the Hunter
Member for Swansea
NSW Government introduces new Youth Action Meetings
The NSW Government is introducing a $26.2 million package of reforms and initiatives to support community safety and wellbeing, including on the Central Coast.
$12.87 million will fund regional crime prevention initiatives including expanding Youth Action Meetings (YAMs) in nine police districts to identify and support vulnerable young people. This includes a new YAM in the Tuggerah Lakes-Brisbane Waters police district.
Youth Action Meetings are monthly forums that are led by the NSW Police Force and involve local government and non-government agencies and services. The NSW Department of Education, NSW Health and Department of Communities and Justice also have a seat at the table.
The meetings identify vulnerable youth who are at-risk of offending or victimisation of crime. They develop strategies with tangible outcomes to ensure young people are referred to the right services and receive the support they need to have the best shot at life.
The NSW Government is also supporting all communities across the state with legislative reform:
- The Government will amend the Bail Act 2013 to include a temporary additional bail test for young people between 14 and 18 charged with committing certain serious break and enter offences or motor vehicle theft offences while on bail for the same offences.
- A focus on “posting and boasting” will create an offence in the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) imposing an additional penalty of 2 years’ imprisonment for people who commit motor vehicle theft or break and enter offences and share material to advertise their involvement in this criminal behaviour.
This new provision will be the subject of a statutory review that will take place 2 years after it commences.
Broader regional crime prevention activities include expansion of the Safe Aboriginal Youth Patrol Program (SAY) to an additional five Closing the Gap (CTG) priority locations. This program is geared at reducing the risk of young Aboriginal people being victims of or involved in crime. The locations will be determined in consultation with communities.
These reforms and initiatives are designed to help drive down crime rates and support young people, including those across the Central Coast.
This is on top of the NSW Government’s commitment to addressing a shortfall in police numbers by recruiting more officers and getting more boots on the ground across the state.
Last year, we made the historic announcement that Student Police Officers will be paid to study at the Goulburn Police Academy. Student Police Officers now receive a salary of approximately $30,984 over the 16-week study period, including super and award-based allowances.
Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism and Member for Swansea Yasmin Catley said:
“We are already taking steps to increase the number of police officers in NSW and that includes the Central Coast.
“I have seen firsthand the amazing work our police officers do in our communities and we’re backing them to make a difference.
“The new Youth Action Meeting on the Central Coast is about everyone working together to make sure vulnerable kids have access to the right support and get the best shot at life.”
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs & Treaty, Minister for the Central Coast and Member for Wyong David Harris said:
“It is great to see this renewed focus on supporting young people on the Coast. With the right people around the table we can get better outcomes.
“We are committed to working in partnership with Aboriginal Communities, particularly Aboriginal community-controlled organisations, regional alliances and community leaders, to co-design early intervention programs to discourage young people from being involved in crime in the first place.”
Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch said:
“Investing in support for young people on the Coast is always super-important.
“Our Police do a fantastic job and additional investment to help drive down crime and support young people is a welcome addition to the range of supports our Police provide the Central Coast community above and beyond front-line policing.”
Member for The Entrance David Mehan said:
“This is great news for the Central Coast and shows the Minns Labor government is listening to community concerns about youth offending and supporting vulnerable young people in our region.”
