African Youth Crime Statistics Show an Incomplete Picture

Tuesday 21 August 2012 

The Ethnic Communities' Council of Victoria responds to African Youth Crime Concern printed yesterday in the Age. 

In the article, it appears Victoria Police is attempting to justify their well-documented heavy-handed treatment of the Somali and Sudanese youth. 

To equate ethnicity with crime is a form of racial profiling. We note the Police rarely comment upon the race of offenders from the so-called ‘general population’. 

These statistics ignore the fact that many young people from these communities have to contend with discrimination, lack of opportunities and targeting by Police.

The overall crime rate for these communities is extremely low as the Police acknowledge. This article provides an incomplete picture of these communities which leads to the erosion of trust and further marginalizes these young people.

ECCV Director Ross Barnett is available for comment. For further enquiries contact Sarah Hunt on (03) 9349 4122.