“Just be compliant during a home invasion” says Neil Mitchell and Victoria Police

As a shooting in Coolaroo with transpired, Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Steve Fontana, yes that Steve Fontana, appeared on the Today Show Tuesday morning to address the growing public reaction to the violent crime problem in Victoria.

We give Karl Stefanovic some credit – he did ask the hard questions of Fontana and Victoria Police and didn’t let him off easy, particularly with regard to the origin of the offenders and the response capabilities of Victoria Police.

However, it was this zinger from Fontana which proved the lowlight:

“Just make sure your premises is secure overnight and if they do come into your house, don’t get into confrontation with them. Just be compliant. If they want to take a car or property, just let them take it. You know, if you get yourself involved in confrontation you could get hurt. These are really cowardly young people breaking in and best to avoid any confrontation with them.”

There you go folks, just do as you’re told. Why bother with doors, locks and the rest of it? To save time, why not have a tray with keys and valuables on the front porch.  Don’t worry if you’re already complying and still getting beaten. Hell, if they want your wife too let them take her. And if they want to beat your kid to death as well just “be compliant.”

This seems to be a consistent theme from Victoria Police. Assistant Commissioner Robert Hill said similar last Friday morning on 3AW and there’s also this:

It’s nice to know what side the Victoria Police Commissioners are on. It’s all well and good hearing that from people who can open carry a firearm for self-defence, but for the rest of the Australian public not so much.

It’s also not contained to Victoria. A few months ago when a home owner defended his property from a home invasion in Sydney with a bow, NSW Police had this to say:

“But Detective Inspector Johnstone counselled against residents confronting home invaders.

“The last thing we need is further offences and a tragic circumstance, protect your welfare and protect your safety, do not confront a person in your house,” he said.”

Fontana also stated that they have “increased patrols and investigative response” but failed to explain why these are still occurring despite the alleged increased Police response. I’m sure a 13.7% increase in burglaries in 2015-16 and 11 aggravated burglaries a day in Victoria is easy dealt with.

The only winners from this crime are insurance companies, which makes you wonder why the RACV have recently issued similar advice regarding home invasions. Increa$ed in$urance premium$ anybody?

However, the pick of the week had to come from 3AW’s Neil Mitchell and a conversation with a caller named Vincent.

To cut a long story short, Vincent said he was “prepared to kill a home invader and go to jail for it” if they came into his house and threatened him and his family, and that “we have to fight back.”

Agree or disagree and as blunt as Vincent was, his point was clear: I have a right to (practical) self-defence.

Mitchell’s response?

“I don’t think it would make the slightest difference to the aggravated burglary rate if someone was killed because I think they’re beyond logic. I think they’re beyond common sense and what I think you would be doing with that sort of approach is putting the lives of yourself and your family at increased risk. I’m afraid the Police are right. The best thing to do is give them what they want and get ‘em out.”

So Neil Mitchell thinks that the best way to combat those “beyond logic” or remorse for their crimes is to continue to allow them to do it, even when on his own show a day prior he stated that 82% of aggravated burglaries go unsolved? Solid, nothing like a bit of positive re-enforcement.

Guess this guy should’ve been unarmed against this drug fuelled home invader.
Or this woman against 5 home invaders.
Guess none of these examples matter either.
Or these.
Or these ones.

Mitchell was absolutely destroyed on his own Facebook page with not one commenter agreeing with him.

Well it’s really no surprise that Neil Mitchell is anti-self defence:

Can’t come across all pro self-defence when your Alannah and Madeline Foundation colleagues continually push public disarmament now, can we?

This is completely hypocritical from Mitchell, a supposed representative of a charity that “protects kids from violence” but apparently not when it comes to victims of home invasions and violent crimes. Would Neil Mitchell like to explain his reasoning to the parents of Sam Newman, who tragically killed himself from PTSD as a result of having an illegal firearm shoved in his face in a carjacking? Note that the gun laws that AMF venerate didn’t stop that from happening either, Neil.

Mitchell has been happy to exploit the Victorian crime wave and push the “law and order” line for the sake of ratings for the last 18 months. However, when it comes to fighting back he sides with the criminals and advocates for mummy and daddy government, who as usual is not doing a great job.

If it wasn’t already abundantly clear, Neil Mitchell is just your classic “law and order” cuckservative. Talks all tough but when push comes to shove he wants someone else to fight his battles for him, while living in his upper class suburban economic protectorate bubble and telling the plebs to surrender to the criminal element.

I’m 110% sure that a markedly different tone would be coming out of 3AW the morning after Mr Mitchell has 8 armed strangers breaking into his house, and the pretentious posturing will go to the next level.