Under legislation that comes into force today, the Victorian Andrews government has removed penalties for under 18s who breach bail conditions.
Victorian Police Association secretary, Senior Sergeant Ron Iddles, said the changes meant youths on bail could breach curfews without punishment.
"It means absolutely nothing because they can breach that, stay out all night and there is no action that police can take," he told Radio 3AW.
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"I thought there was a basic principle that there were consequences for your action. Now there are no consequences for their actions if they break bail."
But Victorian Attorney-General, Martin Pakula, has defended the laws, which were introduced after advice from child justice experts.
Mr Pakula said the Childrens' Court was clogged up with cases after the previous government introduced automatic release breach penalties for under 18s.
"If someone breaks bail, whether they are a young person, a grown-up, a child, police can always go back before the courts and seek to have that bail cancelled," he said.
"Nothing in that regard has changed.
"If kids break the law, if they commit an indictable offence while on bail, they can be charged with that. They can still have their bail cancelled, they can still be arrested, they can still be remanded."
But police are concerned gang members arrested over a spate of violent burglaries in Melbourne have been already released on bail up to four times.
Shadow Attorney-General, John Pesutto, said the laws could have a direct threat to community safety and sent the wrong message to young people.
The new legislation, though, will make it it harder for an offender to get bail if they have previously escaped from custody or if it relates to terrorism allegations.
