If the aggressive focus on youth crime by the Victorian opposition in recent weeks is anything to go by, this year's state election campaign is going to be bruising – especially if you're a young person of African descent.

Last week, in the wake of Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton's comments that Melburnians were too scared to go out for dinner, a tidal wave of people, largely from suburbs unaffected by issues of youth violence, hit back on social media. This was a perfectly safe city in which to dine, they told Mr Dutton.

The aftermath of the wild party at an Airbnb property in Werribee last December. Credit:Jason South

The poll taken by ReachTEL for The Age on Friday shows, though, that those living in low-crime neighbourhoods may underestimate the depth of concerns about youth violence in high-crime suburbs such as Tarneit and Cranbourne.

Nor do they understand just how vulnerable families have been made to feel by terrifying home invasions like that seen on Thursday in Hillside. Events like it, though rare, are occurring and spark genuine fears.