General News
17 July, 2025
Operation SHELTER gives additional patrols in Horsham
Another arrest has been made in Horsham as youth violence continues, prompting increased police patrols during the school holidays.
Another arrest has been made in Horsham as youth violence continues, prompting increased police patrols during the school holidays.
Horsham Police have had Operation SHELTER in progress in terms of community safety and engagement, as well as the investigative element during the school holidays, resulting in Horsham police charging a teenage boy following an alleged assault in Horsham on July 15.
A police spokerson said, "It is alleged he assaulted another boy in Horsham around 1.30pm and the victim received minor injuries to the head.
"A 13-year-old boy from the Wimmera region was arrested and charged with assault.
"He was remanded to appear before a children's court at a later date."
This is the second arrest made in relation to the recent incidents.
A boy, also 13, was arrested early in July.
these events have affected their family.
"I spent the whole school holidays second-guessing myself, where we went as a family and where I let my children go, because of the effect witnessing some of the recent incidents has had on my children," she said.
"My child was not attacked but witnessed an attack, and my child's whole demeanour changes when we go anywhere near where this occurred, because of the impact it has had."
Sue said the school holidays for her family had been reduced to what they would usually be, due to the current situation.
She said she did not want the perpetrators to receive any attention in the media, but decided it was essential for the community to understand that the recent reports were not about a one-off incident; rather, it is an ongoing issue, and the impacts on children and families are far-reaching.
"I know of people who are not reporting these incidents because of where they work or the friendships they have, and that is concerning," Sue said.
The loss of her family's freedom disturbs Sue.
"We don't want this here," she said.
"We want our community to be safe and happy and not to be in the grip of the bad behaviour of this small number of children, [perpetrators], because that's what they are.
"They are just children themselves, and this behaviour must be addressed before it goes any further," she said.
Horsham Police Inspector Caroline Johnson said that police were taking this matter very seriously.
Still, she reiterated that the majority of Horsham youth are well-behaved and contribute to the community in a meaningful way.
"These incidents are perpetrated by a small number," she said.
The dedicated campaign, Operation Shelter 2025, has seen additional patrols in the area.
She also encouraged the community to assist police with their investigations by reporting these matters to them.