Crime still soaring despite 600+ arrests, half kept in jail after youth bail changes

One year on from a youth crime crackdown spruiked as the toughest in the state’s history and crime is up, residents still live in fear and teen criminals run riot.

ONE year on from a youth crime crackdown spruiked as the toughest in the state’s history and crime is up, residents are still living in fear and teen criminals are still running riot in Townsville.

But Northern Region Assistant Commissioner Mark Wheeler says police are working harder than ever and the new youth bail legislation is working.

Northern Region Assistant Commissioner Mark Wheeler pictured in Townsville. Picture: Alix Sweeney

“It’s a long game we are playing,” Mr Wheeler said.

“We acknowledge there is more work to be done and we know this isn’t an overnight fix.”

On February 9, 2021, Queensland Premier Anastasia Palaszczuk announced a suite of new legislation changes in a bid to crack down on youth crime.

Her announcement came only after the death of motorcyclist Jennifer Board when she was hit by an alleged “vigilante” chasing a stolen car full of juveniles through the streets of Kirwan.

The law changes intended on making it harder for repeat juvenile offenders to get bail, with the addition of a GPS tracker trial for eligible, high-risk offenders aged 16 and 17.

Overseeing all these changes was former anti-terror boss Assistant Commissioner Cheryl Scanlon, who was tasked with the tall order of heading up a newly formed Youth Justice Taskforce.

The burnt-out wrecks of stolen cars are common sightings in the city. This car was set on fire in a Pimlico street.

The laws passed Queensland parliament on April 30, 2021, and since then 620 arrests have been made of juveniles in the Townsville District, with just over half held in custody.

Mr Wheeler, the most senior police officer in North Queensland, said the laws played a big part in keeping these kids behind bars.

“Prior to the 30th (of April) we would have seen a lot lower numbers of those young people held in custody.

“A lot of kids (have been) arrested and it shows the massive efforts.”

Despite this, crime has increased.

According to police data, the month following the law implementation saw 594 break-ins and 188 unlawful use charges laid in May.

Suspected car thieves were filmed switching vehicles by a Heatley resident. Picture: Supplied.

Crime declined steeply in July, but it didn’t last long.

Between September last year and January this year, car thefts have almost doubled, and break-ins have risen 151 per cent.

Mr Wheeler said the statistics wasn’t “the best indicator” of the crime levels.

“Those stats will go up and down.

“When we see a flare up … we will obviously deploy resources onto that problem to bring it under control.”

Mr Wheeler said specialised bail prosecutors were an integral part of keeping offenders in custody, but it was a child’s return to the real world that needed the most work.

“If we see a young prolific offender going back to the same dysfunction and environment, you can expect a similar result.

“Early intervention for those at risk kids who haven’t become offenders … we’ve got to do work there as well.”

This type of intervention was being implemented by the Youth Justice Taskforce, with each individual child having an independent intensive case management plan upon release from detention.

Mr Wheeler said the kids committing these crimes had complex issues, and police were working around the clock to try to keep the community safe.

“They are coming from a really complex, dysfunctional environment and home environment and you can’t arrest your way out of a problem.”

Originally published as Crime still soaring despite 600+ arrests, half kept in jail after youth bail changes