Seniors assaulting seniors?
There have been recent claims of an emerging crime wave sweeping Western Australia – but it seems juveniles are not entirely to blame. According to Premier Colin Barnett, “sadly and tragically, most of the attacks on seniors are by other seniors”. But others are not so convinced by Premier Barnett’s theory.
There have been recent claims of an emerging crime wave sweeping Western Australia – but it seems juveniles are not entirely to blame. According to Premier Colin Barnett, “sadly and tragically, most of the attacks on seniors are by other seniors”. But others are not so convinced by Premier Barnett’s theory.
He made the remark recently after two attacks in four days led to calls for mandatory jail terms for thugs who assault seniors – which Mr Barnett had opposed.
However, WA Council on the Ageing (COTA) chief executive, Ken Marston, said he had seen no evidence to suggest seniors were the main offenders when it came to elderly-bashing.
Mr Marston told DPS News he has yet to see any data that suggests most attacks on seniors are perpetrated by seniors.
“Perhaps the Premier has better access to information than me. In any case, I wonder what significance this would have. The fact is that seniors are vulnerable and both the effects of crime and the fear of crime significantly reduce seniors’ participation in community life, regardless of the age of the offender,” Mr Marston said.
“Anything we can do to reduce both victimisation and fear of crime is welcome. COTA WA runs seniors’ crime and safety seminars and we are pleased that these are supported by the WA Office of Crime Prevention and the WA Attorney General’s Department,” he explained.
Motor vehicle thefts were up 31% after a review of official police statistics for July and August compared with the same months last year. Non-business robberies were also up 23% and burglaries up 16%. Domestic assaults were up 10% and property damage up 7%.
While juveniles were reportedly responsible for about half of all property crimes, the figures came as COTA WA challenged Mr Barnett to produce statistics supporting his “extraordinary” claim that most attacks on the aged were committed by other elderly people.
Do you believe Premier Barnett’s claims or do you agree with Council on the Ageing WA chief executive, Ken Marston? Share your thoughts in the comment box below.
