Things have been quiet on this blog for far too long. My excuse? I've been busy with family dramas, along with the research and writing work for my new book 'Richard Ridge: Convict, Trader and Bailiff in Early Colonial NSW'. This is my tenth non-fiction book and it will be released next week.
The story contains many examples of 'what goes around, comes around', such as the attitude to youth crime. The state of Victoria, where I live, has just announced its intention to follow Queensland's approach by introducing an 'adult crime. adult time' policy for children as young as fourteen. It's not something I agree with, but Victoria has recently seen an outbreak of home invasions, carjackings, and violent crimes involving weapons, committed by young people who are often repeat offenders. It's said that these particular teenagers are being recruited by adult criminals, paying 'cash for crime'. Expecting that the youthful culprits will be let off by the justice system in Victoria's Children's Court, the criminals are assured of these young people as an ongoing workforce resource.
Today's news comes as no surprise to me. 'Adult crime, adult time' was par for the course back in Richard's day. My book describes how a twelve-yr-old was recruited by a gang of three men from central London to open the door latch of a widow's shop west of London, allowing the adults to enter and commit a robbery. Presumably a small boy was needed to climb in through a window. During the gan
