Community-led responses to regional crime vital, parliamentary inquiry hears

The inquiry was established in March 2024 in response to growing concerns about violent crime committed by children and young people in regional and rural NSW. The Committee is examining a broad range of issues, including:

• the drivers of youth crime in regional and rural NSW, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic;
• whole-of-government approaches to reducing the drivers and root causes of youth crime;
• the availability and effectiveness of wraparound and diversionary services for young people and families in regional and rural areas, including how these services can be better integrated into a coordinated approach to divert youth from crime and operate in partnership with Aboriginal communities;
• staffing levels and workforce issues in regional and rural areas, including policing capacity;
• recidivism rates in regional and rural areas and their impacts on communities, services, and law enforcement; and
• the range of functions currently performed by NSW Police on behalf of other agencies – including mental health and youth welfare – and the supports needed to assist police.

The inquiry has generated strong interest from stakeholders and community members, receiving more than 200 submissions. The Law Society of NSW contributed a written submission in May 2024. The Committee has held regional hearings in Bourke, Broken Hill, and Kempsey, two public hearings in Sydney, and informal community meetings in Wagga Wagga.

Interim findings and recommendations

The Committee’s interim report, released in May 2025, identified several significant findings. These included:

• youth crime is having a substantial impact on community safety and cohesion in regional and rural areas;
• youth service providers require targeted training to work safely and effectively with young people who use violence; and
• although strong programs exist, poor coordination between organisations has created critical gaps in support.

Based on these findings, the Committee recommended:

• that NSW Police actively promote awareness of support services available to victims of property crime, including practical resources and service directories;
• that the NSW Government invest in upskilling youth service providers to work effectively with young people who use violence; and
• that greater investment be considered for youth hubs, alongside incentives for community services to collaborate, strengthen referral pathways, and improve service efficiency.

Law Society of NSW evidence at the public hearing

Monday’s hearing was the last public hearing before the release of the inquiry’s final report. Witnesses from key organisations spoke to their submissions and answered questions from the Committee.

Organisations represented included the Police Association of NSW, Youth Justice NSW, the Law Society of NSW, the NSW Bar Association, Raise the Age NSW, Triple P International, Deadly Connections, and BackTrack.

James Clifford, Managing Solicitor of the Children’s Criminal Practice at the Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT), and Isha Caulfield, Principal Solicitor at Caulfield Solicitors, who serve as Chair and Member of the Law Society of NSW’s Children’s Legal Issues Committee respectively, appeared on behalf of the Law Society and spoke to the Law Society’s written submission.

Clifford and Caulfield highlighted that, while the Law Society acknowledges genuine concerns about youth offending in rural and regional communities, the Law Society urges the inquiry to focus on place-based, community-led and culturally appropriate strategies that address the underlying drivers of crime. The Law Society’s representatives cautioned against punitive and short-term responses to youth crime that risk further entrenching children in the criminal justice system, emphasising the criminogenic effect of detention and incarceration on children.

Next steps for the inquiry will be determined following the release of the final report.