Cairns crime: City businesses in despair over rampant crime

Violent and unprovoked attacks are becoming all too regular in the heart of Cairns and business owners want change now.

RAMPANT crime in the heart of Cairns has locals pleading for solutions ahead of an anticipated influx of visitors to the Far North when borders open.

Christina Darwen, who owns and operates The Roti Shack on Lake St, has doggedly campaigned for change.

“Disruptive and anti-social behaviour directly affects our business – public drinking, violence, fighting, abuse, begging,” Mrs Darwen said.

“We are about to be inundated with tourists, and I wouldn’t like to visit a place where I’m harassed and people fight, swear and beat each other.

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“They get arrested and three hours later, they’re back,” she said.

“One of our staff had a chair thrown at them because they wouldn’t give someone a cigarette – it is really disgusting, tourists can’t walk around without being hassled, and there are gangs of juveniles who come into the CBD and just cause trouble.

“The police do a great job but we need more police walking the streets, and we need legislative changes to give security officers and police more power,” Mrs Darwen said.

Mrs Darwen has sent letters to State MP for Cairns Michael Healy, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Police Minister Mark Ryan, and Cairns Mayor Bob Manning – all to no avail.

She suggested moving the Police Beat from the Esplanade to Shields St would help.

Cairns businesses are calling for more police patrols to kerb rising crime in the CBD.

Calls for change escalated after four girls allegedly attacked two Gold Coast women at 10.30pm on Shields St on November 30, grabbing their handbags and running off.

Three girls aged 13 and one girl aged 14 were charged with robbery in company with violence.

It followed the alleged bashing of two women by seven girls earlier in the month.

Evoburger owner Olivia Lang said she’d had store windows smashed and alcohol stolen.

“They are drinking and fighting and bothering our customers,” Ms Lang said.

“We’ve had a lot of problems with teenagers, they don’t go to school and they’re at our tables, spitting on the tables, even though we ask them to move, they ignore us.

“I think there are not enough police officers around the city, considering what is happening,” she said.

“Even though we call, they can’t come in on time – I know they are really busy with other people and in other areas, but when we really want them and need them, they can’t come,” Ms Lang said.

Last month, a man on a public bus was allegedly punched in the head multiple times by three girls aged 12, 13 and 14.

The teens were charged with one count each of assault occasioning bodily harm while in company.

A week earlier, a group of seven girls aged between 11 and 15 allegedly bashed two women on Lake St.

The latest crime data shows there have been 1,377 reported assaults in Cairns this year, compared with 1,202 last year.

The Queensland Crime Report released earlier this year showed Cairns is the fourth most crime-hit region in Queensland.

Cairns represents only 3.1 per cent of the state’s population – but it ranks ahead of regions like the Gold Coast and Logan-Beaudesert when it comes to crime.

Originally published as Cairns crime: City businesses in despair over rampant crime