MANY young people are turning to a life of crime, drugs and gangs as they attempt to escape family violence, according to veteran youth worker Les Twentyman.
Mr Twentyman has worked as an out-reach worker in the western suburbs for decades and also founded The 20th Man Fund, which advocates on behalf of the homeless and the disadvantaged.
Recently, Victoria Police released statistics showing the rate of crimes reported during 2012, compared to the previous year.
The police statistics for Brimbank showed there were more than 820 family violence assaults recorded last year, compared to around 700 in the previous 12 months.
Mr Twentyman said escalating rates of family violence were “having a knock-on effect across the community, as kids flee the violence, hit the streets, join gangs, adding to the cycle of violence.”
Mr Twentyman said the State and Federal Governments need to invest more in youth and family services to help combat the problem.
“Our youth workers at The 20th Man Fund are dealing with these issues everyday, and organisations such as ours need more resources from the government to deal with the issue, as simply policing the issue is failing, as the statistics clearly show,” he said.
Last year, Mr Twentyman organised a summit in Caroline Springs, to help educate youths about avoiding gang activity.
Mr Twentyman told Star that high youth unemployment rates in the West – in addition to family violence – has helped contribute to the formation of Brimbank gangs known by names including St Albans N Kings Park, SKS (Sunshine, Kealba, St Albans), JSC (Junior Sunshine Crips) and D-Block 3023 (Deer Park.).
