Enough is Enough: New juvi data reporting reveals losing battle in war on crime
Six months on from a pledge to share key youth crime data, now published numbers reveal a worsening situation while Cairns victims wait for an end to the crisis gripping the city.
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Far North residents are increasingly taking the fight against car thefts and break-ins into their own hands, as new data shows a crime crisis that shows no signs of abating.
New figures have exposed how the key metrics experts said would lead to a reduction in youth crime are actually getting worse, despite the state government’s pledge to crackdown on the scourge.
Despite tough new laws to fight youth crime introduced in May, during the month of August the Cairns car theft rate hit an average of 2.5 vehicles per day.
Though slowing down at the start of 2023 following the mind boggling car theft total of 1299 vehicles last year, there has been a recent resurgence of theft.
During the second week of this month an average of three vehicles were being stolen daily.
Assaults are trending upwards according to police data and the number of robbery offences has jumped from 96 in the six months to February to 134 in six months to August 21.
For Kodi Matthews, whose uncle, Richard “Dickie” Mathews, was allegedly beaten to death on an Innisfail street earlier this year by a 17-year-old boy, increasing violence was no surprise.
The Cairns-based mine worker remains bitter about the death he claims also contributed to the death of his own father, who suffered a stroke a week before Mr Matthews succumbed to his injuries on June 25.
“The government is not doing their job,” he said.
“The police can’t chase these kids, there is no penalty, and it’s escalating out of control to the point they are doing armed robbery.
“How did we get here? And they are getting younger and younger.
“Is it the justice system, is it social media? And the programs they are running are not working.”
Mr Matthews agreed greater government transparency through the publishing of performance data was a “good start” toward getting the state’s crime crisis under control.
A check back in with historical victims of crime has revealed psychological, financial and physical impacts linger long after a robbery or break-in that often carry life-changing impacts.
In April Jade Karo’s parents had a Ford Ranger stolen from their Kewarra Beach home. Alleged thieves went on a citywide rampage running red lights and crashing into other vehicles before the smashed up car was dumped on Anderson St.
“There are so many things we have to think about before we leave home. Is the house going to be trashed when we get home? And a lot of people just don’t feel safe,” she said.
“I just think the government doesn’t realise how much this is affecting everyone’s quality of life.”
The youth support worker said she was usually a compassionate and empathetic person but those values had been tested by out-of-control kids tearing up Cairns streets in stolen cars.
“The Youth Justice Act is protecting them and they are going to continue to reoffend, there is no deterrent, it’s unfair we have to be out-of-pocket, we work hard and pay taxes and the least the government can do is have our backs and protect us.”
After being rammed by a stolen car in September last year, Bayview Heights dental assistant Jenelle Reghenzani is still nursing an injured arm and has not yet returned to work.
“The headaches from the whiplash are horrendous,” she said.
Speaking over the drone of the Rescue 510 helicopter flying overhead on the hunt for another stolen car, Ms Reghenzani remained at loggerheads with the insurer of the stolen car.
She called for radical solutions to the Cairns car theft epidemic.
“The number of people that have had their cars stolen and their livelihood taken, it’s beyond out of control,” she said.
“They have to bring a curfew in, that’s the only way we are going to clean the streets or bring the army in.”
While some called for greater government action, a recent trend has involved crime victims taking their own action.
In July, waterfront restaurant owners, including Ochre proprietor Craig Squire began hiring a private security force after the alleged assault of staff and in Redlynch a new WhatsApp group chat is putting residents on the front foot.
Victim of a recent home invasion, The Pocket resident Andy Wheeler has set up the neighbourhood chat where suspicious activity can be shared.
The group also hosts get-togethers to demonstrate home security products and anti-crime tips.
“I am keen on this being a passive approach and we are not a vigilante group,” he said.
“We are getting a few inquiries (about the group chat) and it’s pretty simple, you can set up your own neighbourhood watch.”
Another victim of vehicle theft Michael King had his Ford Ranger ripped off last year and since then he claims the situation has not improved.
“A friend of mine was driving my car yesterday and a mob of kids in a stolen car in the city almost ran him off the road,” he said.
“It doesn’t really matter what law reform they do, if they are not enforcing it in the courts it doesn’t change anything.
“The government in their misguided way think they are doing the right thing by not punishing them.
“They are creating the next generation of people that are going to end up in Lotus Glen.
“The government is disgraceful in the way they are not handling it.”
Originally published as Enough is Enough: New juvi data reporting reveals losing battle in war on crime
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