Western Plains community leaders are pushing for a coordinated response to tackle youth crime after a fatal hit-and-run near Gunnedah involving three 14-year-olds killed a motorcyclist in his 50s during a police pursuit. 

They were travelling in a vehicle stolen from Moree.

Local mayors and community leaders say it could happen in any almost town in the state and the incident should trigger decisive action.

"It's heartbreaking for his family and friends and their community to think that person was out on bail for very similar offenses," Bourke Shire Mayor Lachlan Ford said. 

One of the children was out on bail at the time while another teenager had a warrant for an alleged domestic violence-related assault. 

"I know Moree, Narrabri, and Gunnedah communities are still reeling from this shocking tragedy," MP Mark Coulton said. 

"Sadly this incident is just the tip of the iceberg. Communities throughout my electorate have been dealing with youth crime for years but over the past year it seems to have escalated and now it's resulted in the death of an innocent man," Mr Coulton said. 

Youth crime is becoming an entrenched problem in many communities throughout Australia.

Ten- to seventeen-year-olds were the age group most likely to commit a robbery, breaking and entering, and motor vehicle offense in NSW, according to statistics from BOSCAR (Bureau of Crime Statistics & Research). 

Between October 2023 and September 2024, 10- to 17-year-olds committed 613 robberies, 2,092 breaking and entering offenses, and 1,177 motor vehicle thefts.

Lachlan Shire Mayor John Medcalf echoed the sentiment. 

"It's the same in all rural communities. We're having these issues because we've got so much distance between ourselves and doesn't matter whether it's crime, policing, or even the health services."

"We need to be communicating especially with the parents and community organisations to try and help each other."

Lachlan Shire Mayor John Medcalf.

The community-led crime prevention group Safer Coonamble Group is working to tackle crime by putting resources where they are needed.

"We need to nip it in the bud," SCG member Dennis Glover said.

He said youth programs stop children from going out at night and getting into trouble and can provide the youth with life skills they can use to find employment "but we need funding to do the programs".

"They start to break in the houses from the age of eight because they can access the windows easier."

Cr Ford said he sees kids as young as ten committing crimes in Bourke. 

"I think the age has decreased. 

"Back in the 90s, we always had a lot of cars stolen but we didn't have the knife-related crime that we have nowadays." 

The rate of violent crimes in the Far West and Orana is 2.9 times higher than the state average, according to a 2023 BOSCAR report on regional and rural crime in NSW. 

Regional Crime Inquiry 

In October 2024, a regional crime inquiry hearing was held in Bourke to discuss how to tackle crime in regional and rural areas.  

Similar to other rural communities in NSW Bourke has been struggling with youth crime for many years.

The final report is scheduled to be released in November of this year. So far, there has been no update on the progress of the inquiry. 

"I'd like to see them acknowledge that there are issues within the court system that things need to change," Cr Ford said. 

"I think the state government needs to be talking to our local councils and the Country Mayor's Association (CMA) because we represent our communities. They need good background knowledge to make decisions that support what we're trying to do," Cr Medcalf said. 

"People have been screaming for change but we are yet to see any practical solutions. What is it going to take for someone to be done?" former chair of the Country Mayors' Association (CMA) Jamie Caffey said. 

No one-size-fits-all solution

Finding a solution often involves talking to people on the ground and the collaboration of community and government organisations, the community leaders say. 

"I don't think there's any one-size-fits-all approach to it. Different kids from different families face different situations," Cr Ford said. 

One important factor to keeping children out of jail he said was education because incarceration does not work as a deterrent for all young people. 

"Going to jail or prison is like a badge of honour to them." 

"Once kids slip through and stop going to school and start looking for other ways to keep themselves entertained, it tends to lead to some of the bigger social issues that we're facing nowadays." 

Going to jail can offer a break away from a tough home life, Mr Glover said.

"A couple of kids went away recently and don't want to go back again but for others, it's a way to get fed and have airconditioning."

The state government has promised to address regional and rural crime. 

"I understand the serious concerns around crime in our regional communities, and I want to assure the community that NSW Police are working tirelessly to address these issues," NSW Minister for Police Yasmin Maree Catley said. 

“In addition to a strong law enforcement response, the Government wants to get to the bottom of these complex problems and tackle the root causes of offending. This requires everyone from state to local government, community organisations, support services, and education to work together."