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Not so bad by comparisonA very dramatic chart showing Wyndham had 16,239 property and deception offences in the past year, whereas Hobsons Bay has only 5455. If you allow for the fact that Wyndham has around three times the population of Hobsons Bay, then the rates per thousand of population are very similar.David Torr, Werribee Learn from NSWRelative to Victoria, NSW has a larger population, resettles more migrants and refugees, and has less serious youth crime. In 2022-23, young people constituted 16 per cent of offenders, with fare evasion their most common offence.In Victoria, in 2023, crime by 14 to 17-year-olds rose by 30 per cent, the highest rate since 2009. Offences by 10 and 11-year-olds surged by 65 per cent. The most common crimes were aggravated burglary and car theft. Why the surge in Victoria, specifically Melbourne? Was there a boom in the “market” for young people to carry out such serious crimes, potentially at the behest of organised crime for car rebirthing and stolen goods?NSW has many high schools offering specialisations in creative and performing arts, sports, technology, and languages, catering for a wide range of students’ interests and strengths. Victoria should surely be similarly diversifying to increase educational engagement, at least re-establishing technical schools as an immediate priority.Barbara Chapman, South Yarra Gaza protestersWhere once the weekly marches in Melbourne concerned the plight of Gazan Palestinians facing Israel’s retaliatory search and destroy mission against Hamas, the demonstrations have morphed into, or perhaps been hijacked by, an increasingly violent, hate-filled cohort of “issue-motivated groups on the left” including anti-racism activists, as well as the original pro-Palestinian/anti-Israel demonstrators (“Melbourne has had a gutful”, 20/10).After the weekend’s latest manifestation of violent hostility masquerading as a just cause, police Commander Wayne Cheesman has bluntly stated, “Melbourne has had a gutful”. Those Melburnians sick and tired of Melbourne being held to ransom by ideological grievance and self-righteous outrage, couldn’t agree more.Deborah Morrison, Malvern East Taking it too farWhat a shocking photo on the front of The Age on Monday of the protests in Melbourne. Peaceful protest is a wonderful right, but would these people with their masks, rocks and violence be able to clearly articulate what they are actually protesting about? They need to stop wrecking our beautiful city, and instead sit down over a cup of tea and talk to each other. This style of violent protest, no matter one’s point of view, is outrageous and counterproductive.Fiona White, Alfredton
