Migrant criminals should be 'shipped back to their own country': Victoria's top cop
Migrants who commit violent crimes should "expect to be shipped back to their own country", Victoria's police chief says.
Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton's comments come as the federal government considers lowering the age criminal migrants can be deported to 16.
Four men linked to the local so-called Apex gang have had their visas cancelled after being convicted of crimes in Victoria, including 19-year-olds New Zealander Henry Robati and Sudanese Isacc Gatkouth.
Mr Ashton said while most members of the gang were Australian-born "Anglo-Saxon kids", Victoria Police would seize opportunities to report non-citizens to the federal government.
"If people are committing crimes on our streets, often violent crimes, often crimes of robbery, taking cars off people... if there's an opportunity to move those people offshore, we're in favour of that, frankly," Mr Ashton told reporters on Thursday.
"If there is an opportunity to move these people offshore, we're in favour of that."
Victoria Police has referred a number of youths under 18 to Border Force, but Mr Ashton would not say how many.
Victorian Police Minister Lisa Neville said only recidivist criminals causing the most "serious harm" were being considered for deportation.
Federal Immigration Minister Peter Dutton told 3AW a federal migration committee was looking at the potential for children under 18 to be deported if they committed serious crimes in Australia.
"Whether, for example, the bar can be lowered from 18, to 17 to 16, or whatever the case may be," Mr Dutton said on Thursday.
He said the crackdown paved way for other non-Australian criminals to be deported.
"There are others we are looking at, at the moment. And I think this should send a very clear message to these people.
"If they cherish the lift they lead here in Australia, they need to start respecting Australian laws."
In another Melbourne shakedown, the city's Lord Mayor has promised to fight for a new bylaw that bans homeless people sleeping on CBD streets.
Robert Doyle says he will take a proposal to the next council meeting, following the large group of homeless people that have set up camp at Flinders Street Station.
“Police already have powers to arrest for obstruction, for drug use, for threatening or aggressive behaviour, and for begging, and I would like to see them make full use of those powers as well," he told the Herald Sun on Thursday.
