Cairns crime victims back state’s new youth justice crackdown

Victims of the long-running youth crime scourge have thrown their support behind the Premier’s proposed youth justice reforms. But will it have the desired effect.

Beleaguered victims of the Far North’s long-running youth crime scourge have thrown their support behind the Premier’s proposed youth justice reforms, saying it is long overdue.

But will it have the desired effect on offending rates?

In the wake of Emma Lovell’s alleged home invasion murder, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced on Thursday that in 2023 the Youth Justice Act would be amended to mandate that courts take into account previous bail history, criminal history and track record when sentencing youth offenders.

Ms Lovell, 41, was allegedly murdered while defending her North Lakes home from teenage home invaders on the evening of December 26.

The Youth Justice Act will be amended to mandate that courts take into account previous bail history, criminal history and track record when sentencing youth offenders.

The maximum penalty for stealing a car will increase from seven to 10 years’ imprisonment, while a more severe penalty of 14 years’ jail will be introduced for offences committed at night.

Ms Palaszczuk also announced increased penalties for criminals who “boast” about crimes on social media along with $9.8 million of funding to “fast track sentencing”.

“These are tough measures, they will be put in place,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

The state government has also vowed to build two new youth detention centres, and will trial engine immobilisers in Mt Isa, Cairns and Townsville.

“Community safety has to come first here, we stand with the Lovell family and the community,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

The government has confirmed the increased penalties will apply to youth offenders as well.

“Crime, especially youth crime, is a complex issue but community safety must come first,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced that the Youth Justice Act will be amended to mandate that courts take into previous bail history, criminal history and track record when sentencing youth offenders. File Photo.

According to victims of crime in Cairns, it’s a welcome, if overdue change.

Redlynch resident Anna Stanbridge said the announcement should have been made years ago.

Last month Ms Stanbridge, 55, woke to find a burglar at the foot of her bed.

While she bravely managed to scare off the intruder, he ran off with her credit cars and car keys while she pursued him into the street and blasted an air horn to alert her neighbours of the threat.

When Redlynch resident Anna Stanbridge welcomed the news that the youth justice laws would be overhauled after her home was broken into and she woke to find the intruder in her bedroom, shining a torch. Picture: Brendan Radke

“The current punishment for youth offenders is not fitting the crime so it’s welcome but totally overdue,” she said.

“The state government needs to get their act together on this, they didn’t muck around when pulling the Covid laws in, so they need to work quickly on this.”

Her husband Tom Stanbridge, 61, agreed.

“I believe past criminal history should be taken into account if warranted,” he said.

“I also believe that if sentenced we need to have rehabilitation in place because there’s no use locking them up if they won’t be any good in the community when they are released.”

Mr Stanbridge said he would also like the Premier to place youth gangs under the same constraints which prohibit members of Outlaw Motor Cycle Gangs meeting up.

“A lot of young offenders are now going around in gangs and we have other laws such as those for OMCG,” he said.

“These youth gangs are also criminal gangs and we want them accountable to the same laws.”

Single mother Sarah Martin said she welcomed any changes to youth justice laws which addressed prevention and rehabilitation. Ms Martin has had her Bentley Park home broken into twice, with the offenders taking the keys to her car from her bedroom and stealing the vehicle. Picture: Brendan Radke

A three-time victim of crime in the space of a couple of months, Bentley Park resident Sarah Martin said the status quo needed to change.

“It is very frustrating with the current youth justice situation,” she said.

“I am also all about more funding for police, preventive and rehabilitation programs.”

Cairns criminal lawyer Scott Osbornefelt the announcement was more about spin, as education and support were the answers to reducing youth crime.

“To be perfectly frank, increasing maximum penalties as is proposed does very little to deter those who commit crime,” he said.

“That’s evident when one looks at the maximum sentences for drug possession, supply and trafficking.”

He said that increasing the sentence from seven to 10 years for stealing a car, won't have much impact.

“It will make very little difference to the sentences that are actually imposed, especially when one looks at the sentencing limitations of the Children’s Court,” he said.

“It’s sounds good from a political point of view – flexing the muscles on youth crime, etc – and may appease some victims of property crime, but the key to reducing youth crime is to be found elsewhere in areas such as proper investment in education and support services with a strong focus on the parents of these protagonists which is something that successive governments have failed to focus on.”

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Originally published as Cairns crime victims back state’s new youth justice crackdown