On Wednesday, Stevens said there was no evidence for local media claims of a youth crime wave, on the back of a number of recent incidents.

Last night, following more reports Stevens issued a statement stating that in the past few days “media reports have focused on youth crime in South Australia.”

“There is a perception from media outlets that there has been an increase in youth crime in the past couple of months, as I have said previously this is not the case,” Stevens said.

“The figures I have readily available to me regarding youth crime offenders show the number of juveniles 10-17 years who have been arrested or reported has remained steady over the past five years.

“Although there was a slight increase in 2019, this was followed by a decrease, in the normal fluctuations of crime statistics.”

Figure1 . Number of persons aged 10-17 years apprehended (arrested/reported), by age group, 1 January – 30 September, 2017-2022
Picture: SA Police

Figure. Number of persons aged 10-17 years apprehended (arrested/reported), 1 January – 30 September, 2017-2022
Picture: SA Police

Stevens said he believed the increased media scrutiny on youth crime may stem from ongoing debate about lifting the criminal age to 14.

“We have always in a daily briefing to the media provided information about overnight crime and we invariably report on the ages of people involved in those incidents – that has not changed,” he said.

“I believe there is a much stronger focus on youth crime at the moment because of the current debate within the community about how young offenders should be dealt with.”

Earlier this year Greens MLC Robert Simms reintroduced a private member’s bill to raise the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 14.

If passed, the legislation could release all children aged under 14 from youth detention within a month.

Stevens said the South Australian Police’s annual report shows a slight decrease in overall reported crime in the past 10 years, with over half of the offences committed by juveniles being committed by 10 per cent of offenders.

“There is no agenda by South Australia Police to highlight youth criminal offender activities and there has been no change in SAPOL policy or practice regarding what crimes or apprehensions are released,” he said.

“It is important for us to not just focus on the number of offences but the seriousness of the offence, and the core group of offenders who are responsible for a disproportionate number of these offences.

“Sadly for as long as I have been involved in policing we have had young people committing offences, this is not a unique or new trend.”