The Liquor Stores Association of Western Australia has condemned the violent carjacking of a regional MP and the subsequent ram raid on a Carnarvon liquor store last night.
LSA CEO Peter Peck said the incident, proved that the youth crime rate in some regional areas was in crisis.
Mr Peck said the brazen carjacking on the Liberal candidate for Mid-West, Merome Beard was a brutal example of inadequate policies bearing fruit where young people felt bullet proof knowing there were no consequences for their juvenile delinquency.
He said even more concerning was that Ms Beard’s vehicle was allegedly used in a ram raid on a local liquor store causing extensive damage to the tune of 30-thousand dollars.
“I can’t believe we have kids barely in their teens, steal under the nose of a local MP and cause havoc for hours on end” he said.
“How somebody wasn’t injured or killed is quite incredible.
“What’s clear, is that these kids have no care for the letter of the law and that is a major problem.
“Our industry has been targeted and accused of doing the wrong thing and has been made out to be the villain.
“Last night’s incident is a clear case that in actual fact our members and the community at large are the victims.”
“It’s high time the state government of the day rolls out appropriate wrap around services that have been promised time and time again but have never been delivered, to deal with these offenders.
“The status quo is irrelevant, and the whole community is suffering for it.
Mr Peck said the constant focus on imposing liquor restrictions on small business owners had insignificant effect on the perceived level of anti-social behaviour.