MELBOURNE, June 26 (Xinhua) -- Australian federal police resources will be committed to help combat youth gang crime in Melbourne, it was revealed Monday.
Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull confirmed Monday that Victorian authorities will be granted access to Australian Federal Police (AFP) assets such as forensic labs and intelligence-mapping for the first time.
Turnbull also said that laws that allowed the deportation of non-Australian offenders over the age of 18 would be employed as part of a blitz on gang-related crime and violence.
Melbourne has been in the midst of rising youth gang crime for the last two years as the number of violent offences and carjacking's in the state have soared.
Turnbull promised that "the full might" of AFP resources would be thrown at tracking down and arresting violent offenders.
"Victorians, like all Australians, deserve to feel safe to go about their daily lives without fear or intimidation. Plainly, the status quo is not enough," Turnbull told Australian media.
"These street gangs and criminals rely heavily on the illegal drug trade to make a profit, with no regard for the pain and damage they leave in their wake."
By using similar tactics to those that dismantled the infamous Apex gang, Victoria Police have compiled a database of 200 gang "ringleaders" and plan to cancel the visas and deport those that migrated to Australia.
"Together, Victoria Police and the AFP will be able to identify, catch and prosecute these violent criminals faster than ever before," Michael Keenan, Australia's justice minister, said.
Under the partnership, dedicated AFP intelligence officers will support Victoria Police's anti-gang investigations.
The investigation teams will also have access to the AFP's National Forensic Rapid Lap to fast-track the analysis of evidence.
