Juvenile crime expected to rise over summer but police hopeful tides are turning

Juvenile crime has reduced over recent months, according to the city’s top cop, but it is expected to pick up again as Geraldton heads into summer. Geraldton Police officer-in-charge Chris Martin said seasonal trends and youth engagement strategies had seen juvenile crime rates decrease. “I would say that, in the last three months, we’ve seen a general reduction in juvenile crime, consistent with the crime trends that we tend to see throughout the year,” he said. “It’s in part to some of the engagement strategies we’ve implemented through youth policing, and various other kinds of joint agency programs with the Department of Communities, Department of Education and youth groups like PCYC.” Sen. Sgt Martin said while the signs were positive, there were still some concerns as we head into the summer and holiday periods. “We have observed larger groups of juveniles congregating in the CBD area, the foreshore area, which I expect will continue,” he said. “So, juvenile crime is still very much present, and is a risk that may increase over the summer period.” However Sen. Sgt Martin is hopeful that youth engagement programs and other methods can help to curb juvenile crime. “Police are there to help people and support them and essentially divert them from offending,” he said. “Like any great endeavour in the community, it takes time to bed and it takes time for people to be aware of the services that are available. “I think that we have seen a genuine reduction in the last two or three months and I encourage concerned parents or guardians to reach out to support services who can help keep their kids out of trouble with the police.”