THE family of a Kilsyth teenager who was brutally bashed by gatecrashers at a party late last year have slammed the State Government for a "soft approach" to crime.
Scott (not his real name) was at a Kilsyth house on December 12 to celebrate his friend's brother's 18th birthday when a gang of youths entered the house uninvited.
After being told to leave, the youths became violent and Scott, 17, was hit in the face and knocked to the ground.
He was taken to Maroondah Hospital but discharged a few hours later after his injuries were mistaken for swelling.
He returned to hospital a week later when x-rays showed a broken jaw and was transferred to Dandenong Hospital for surgery.
Scott's mother, who did not want to be named, spoke to the Journal last week about her son's ordeal.
"It's disturbing to know that people can just go and do that sort of stuff," she said.
"I know the police can't always attend every single event either, so it's very hard."
Scott's mother said he had been unable to eat as a result of the attack and had lost a lot of contact with his friends because he wasn't allowed out.
"He'd fortunately finished school for the year - he'd done year 10 - but it just put a bit of a damper on trying to find work and going away [for Christmas holidays]."
She said Scott was recovering from his injuries well, but would need counselling "just to go over it all".
"It wasn't just the physical injuries, it was the emotional trauma as well."
She said she hoped the people who attacked her son would "get a life" and take responsibility for their actions.
Senior Constable Michelle Driscoll, of Mooroolbark police, said the incident was under investigation, but no charges had been laid.
Scott's grandmother, of Ringwood East, said she had been shocked to hear of the attack.
"To have the gang come in and just violate someone else's home - it just doesn't make sense to me."
In a letter to Opposition leader Ted Baillieu, she wrote that the family felt let down by the Government.
Scott's grandmother stated the Government's soft approach was "ruining our great state" and something needed to be done urgently.
Speaking in Parliament earlier this month, Kilsyth Liberal MP David Hodgett said violent crime in Melbourne's outer east was getting worse.
He slammed the Government for "failing dismally on community safety and law and order".
"Everyone except the Premier and his ministers is prepared to accept that Victoria has a problem with violence."
Mr Hodgett called on the Government to allocate more police to Croydon and Mooroolbark police stations.
Government spokesman Chris Owner criticised Mr Hodgett for "failing to recognise" the hard work of Victoria Police.
He said police numbers had grown by 27 per cent in Maroondah, where crime had "dropped consistently over the last 10 years". "Mr Hodgett should do his homework rather than trying to scare the people of Ringwood East."
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