Recent reforms to Victoria's youth justice system have failed to stem the scourge of violent offending in the “lawless state”, shadow police minister David Southwick has said.

Mr Southwick argued the government had been putting the interests of criminals over those of law-abiding citizens.

“What Victorians are desperate for is [for the government] to put victims first, not criminals, and give them a second, third, fiftieth chance,” he told Peta Credlin on Monday night.

“...You can’t have carve-outs for young people. If you commit a serious crime no matter what your age, then you need to face consequences.

“Particularly when we’re seeing machete crime every single day, home invasions.”

He said the judicial system needed to send the message of “tough love”.

“These individuals need to b

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