Youth crime is a huge issue here in Australia. Especially because it isn’t just a law enforcement issue. And while that’s true for many other instances of criminal activity, helping young people steer clear of a life of crime is complicated. It can’t be tackled without cooperation between several groups of people – from those involved in the justice system, to youth support services and charities, parents, governments and schools. 

In today’s episode, we’re covering a number of incidents around the country that have been recently reported, involving so-called ‘kid criminals.’ Heath and Rohan take a look at some of the phenomena that have affected why these kids act the way they do – from addictions, the impact of being ‘cool crims’ on social media, socio-economic factors, even touching on how the recent lockdowns and enforced time away from school may be affecting children, particularly disadvantaged children.

It’s important we help young people get the help they need before it’s too late. So if you do see any instance of crime, do report it to your local police station or Crime Stoppers. But for instances involving younger people and first-time offenders, the BUSTED experts suggest finding ways to help them get on the right path rather than just locking them up. 

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