Every night *Ivy checks her doors and windows and makes sure they are secure before she goes to bed.
But she doesn’t sleep, at least not for long.
As she told the Clarence Valley Independent last week, she’s lucky if she catches “between four and five hours of shuteye each night.”
“I’m always on edge, because I never know when they will come,” she said.
The ‘they’ she refers to is a group of youths, usually between three to five individuals she estimates are aged in their early teens, who regularly appear at her South Grafton residence under the cover the darkness.
Sometimes, they congregate in her driveway and casually walk around her car and give the door handle a tug or two to test that its locked.
Other times, they circle the perimeter of her house, seemingly looking for a quick and easy way to gain entry.
Despite her best efforts to protect herself and her property, *Ivy worries that one day, they’ll succeed.
“I think it’s only a matter of time,” she said.
“For months I’ve been on high alert because of these youths, and I’m frightened because I don’t know what they might do or what they’re capable of.
“Who knows where their parents are, if they know what they’re up to, or if they even care?
“A lot of my neighbours have been targeted too, quite possibly by the same youths, and a lot of people in South Grafton, and all across the Clarence Valley, are living in fear because youth crime is out of control.
“Almost every day we hear new reports of youths trying to break into cars and houses and stealing people’s property.
“It’s got to stop.”
*Ivy previously contacted the police when she sighted the youths near her residence, but said she feels they “can only do so much.” *Ivy believes youth crime is out of control due to “the weak and insipid state of the judicial system in Australia.”
“It’s totally spineless,” she said.
“Youths know they can do whatever they want because they’ll get away with nothing more than a slap on the wrist, if that.
“Unless tougher laws are introduced, nothing will change.”
In a statement released last week, Member for Clarence Richie Williamson demanded the Minns Government take urgent action as youth crime spirals out of control across the Clarence Valley and regional communities throughout NSW.
Mr Williamson called on Premier Chris Minns and his Government to “take immediate steps to crack down on youth crime and restore community confidence in the justice system.”
“On behalf of the communities I represent, I am demanding meaningful legislative reforms be introduced in the NSW Parliament as a mat ter of urgent priority, as the bail experiment of the past 12 months is failing the people of regional NSW,” he said.
“Every day, I hear from locals who are deeply worried about youth crime in our community.
“They feel the Minns Government is failing to take decisive action, and the problem is only getting worse.
“The Government needs to give this crisis the full attention it deserves.”
Mr Williamson emphasised his words are not criticism of the hard-working local police, “who are doing the best job they can with the resources available to them.”
Instead, he said the justice system is failing them and the community.
“Our local police are working tirelessly to combat this crime wave, and I commend them for their dedication and commitment,” he said.
“But they are being let down by a judicial system that continues to grant bail to repeat young offenders, sending them straight back onto our streets.
“This is not what my community expects.
“I’ve had enough, and the people of the Clarence Valley have had enough.
“The Government must act immediately before more lives are put at risk.”
Across the state, there have been increased calls for tougher penalties, improved reform measures, and a complete overhaul of the justice system following the tragic death of a 42-year-old motorcyclist near Gunnedah in north-central NSW on January 28 after he was struck by an allegedly stolen Isuzu D-Max utility with three occupants, all aged 14 and well known to police, on board.
One 14-year-old boy, who police will allege was the driver, has since been charged with 15 offences.
During his appearance in Tamworth Local Court last week, the magistrate heard he had a criminal record extending across 38 pages.
The other two 14-year-old boys have both been charged with five offences each.
While addressing the media following the tragedy last week, Shadow Minister for Police Paul Toole also called for change.
“We need to make sure that the Government actually has harsher laws, greater penalties, and deals with the young people that are committing these offences,” he said.
*Ivy’s name has been changed for the purposes of publication in accordance with her wishes.
This article appeared in the Clarence Valley Independent, 5 February 2025.