Melbourne is facing a violent crime surge driven by hundreds of teenagers from dozens of youth gangs, with most offenders still on the streets despite multiple arrests. Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush revealed the scale of the problem in an exclusive interview for 7NEWS's series 'Breaking Point: Five Nights. Five Investigations'. Police have mapped 33 youth gangs operating across Victoria, particularly in Melbourne, and identified 610 individual offenders.
The majority of gang members are aged between 14 and 18, with some as young as 12. Many are 'prolific, multiple offenders' who have been arrested more than once. Police can identify gang members even when masked, using behaviour patterns, movements, and distinctive walking styles captured on CCTV footage. 'Our people are very active in these communities. Not only do we know who they are, we have plans in place for each one of them,' Bush said.
The revelation comes as Melburnians face unprecedented levels of violent crime, leaving victims traumatised, police frustrated, and the court system under intense scrutiny. Bush believes a state-wide electronic monitoring system is the answer, similar to one used in his native New Zealand. He stressed that the system should be run by corrections and youth justice, not outsourced, and connected to law enforcement for immediate breach alerts. 'Criminals have got to know there's a consequence,' Bush said. 'They've got to know that if they commit serious offences, especially if they continue to commit them, they're going to end up in custody.'
