An under-pressure state government has one eye on an election with moves to knock youth crime out of the headlines, political analysts say.

Victoria's Labor government has vowed to force children as young as 14 into adult courts for sentencing over violent crimes and possible life sentences for " puppet master " criminals who recruit kids into violent gangs.

Record youth crime rates and several high-profile attacks have put the Allan government on the back foot throughout 2025, with reforms to bail, machete sales and ankle monitoring devices.

Crime has been dominating talkback radio and nightly news bulletins, leaving the government vulnerable to opposition attacks, according to political scientist Zareh Ghazarian.

"This has been the issue that Labor has really struggled with," Dr Gh

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