The Queensland Government has announced an unprecedented “surge” of police resources into Cairns and Townsville, in a bid to turn the tide on the state’s youth crime crisis.
In the past week, Police have charged 100 offenders in Townsville with 440 crimes and 102 offenders in Cairns with 482 crimes.
Led by local police, the strategic deployments will deliver more boots on the ground than ever before into the Far North and North Queensland communities, flooding the state’s crime hotspots with specialist police to help restore community safety, said Premier, David Crisafulli.
“Queenslanders voted for change and we are laying the foundation to turn the tide on a Youth Crime Crisis that was a decade in the making,” Premier Crisafulli said.
“This surge brings together new resources and extra capacity to deliver the strongest, most targeted policing response Queensland has ever seen, to help restore safety.
“We are sending in the backup to these communities that have been under siege from youth crime, and with our stronger laws and more local police we can make Cairns and Townsville safer.
“While we are seeing the first positive signs of change with statewide crime down, victim numbers down and serious repeat offenders down, much more needs to be done to arrest youth crime and that’s why this major ground operation will start in Cairns and Townsville.
“We’ve delivered the tactical resources police need and with more police on the beat, we’re now sending in the full force of Queensland police to help arrest Labor’s Youth Crime Crisis.”
Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Dan Purdie said the strategic policing effort was an example of what can happen when a government backs our police by giving them the laws and resources they need.
“After a decade of Labor’s failings, Queenslanders finally have a government that puts their safety first,” Minister Purdie said.
“What we are delivering today is a strong, coordinated policing response that gives people back confidence and will help restore safety where they live.
“Our message is clear: offenders will be caught, victims will be protected, and the communities of Cairns and Townsville will no longer be abandoned by a government that failed to act.
“We’ve made Jack’s Law permanent, conducted targeted crackdowns under Operation Marshall, and deployed the State Flying Squad so police have the tools, the powers, and the people they need.
“These surge-capacity deployments bring all of that together in the communities that need it most.”
Latest data shows crime is down across the state in the first seven months of the year compared to the same period last year, with break-ins down 10%, stolen cars down 3%, and robbery down 13%.
