Qld police minister mocked at angry Toowoomba crime forum after death
Police Minister Mark Ryan was jeered at a crime forum in Toowoomba when he claimed most people in general who were on bail did not reoffend. The forum included calls for youth offenders to wear electronic monitoring devices. VOTE IN OUR POLL
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Police Minister Mark Ryan was mocked by the crowd at a crime forum in Toowoomba when he claimed most people in general who were on bail did not reoffend.
The crowd at the forum – that Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk snubbed – erupted in laughter at the minister’s claims on Wednesday night, before he announced new initiatives around intensive bail supervision.
The forum was sparked by the senseless alleged killing of 75-year-old Robert Brown, with the audience told crime had risen in Toowoomba and across the state.
Ms Palaszczuk was noticeably absent, providing few answers to questioning media on Wednesday afternoon and telling reporters she would return to Toowoomba “in the future”.
“I understand there is community concern in Toowoomba,” she said. “The police commissioner has briefed me, I’ve also had discussions with both the Police Minister and the Youth Justice Minister, they will be attending.
“Queensland is a huge state, I have a big job and I will be going to Toowoomba in the near future.
“I think it’s very important that the people who are attending the meeting hear directly from the Police Minister.”
The crowd submitted more than 230 questions for Mr Ryan, Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll and Youth Justice Minister Leanne Linard.
During the forum, one brave young woman stood up to say she was raped but questioned why her perpetrator was let out with parole.
Mr Ryan said he acknowledged the woman's pain and she had a right to feel safe.
The woman – and the crowd – laughed his sympathy off.
"He is still working around Toowoomba, he goes to school, and no one knows my name," she replied.
One woman also asked about what she could do to defend herself, with Supt McDonald saying they should escape or run away. "But you cannot walk away."
More jeers started from the crowd.
Another woman asked about tracking devices for youth offenders.
"If they are wearing electronic monitoring devices, young offenders should not be able to steal cars," she asked.
Mr Ryan said a trial started two years ago that involved electronic monitoring bracelets being placed on a handful of offenders.
"It was only being used on a handful of offenders, because it was new technology to be used on an offender," he said.
He went on to say that the outcome of those trials was being looked at. "We are considering that, about possible expansion," Mr Ryan said. "Of those that had an electronic device, it was very successful and we will look at that."
One participant said laws had been weakened by "soft ideology".
"To the minister, this is nothing personal, (but) we are in this problem because we have eroded punishments, because we've pandered to weak ideologies," he said.
"We need draconian measures, we are on the cusp of anarchy.
"My car was stolen and I got it back. I had vigilante thoughts, I thought about taking the laws into their own hands.
"Meanwhile the 98 per cent are locked in their homes, bars on their windows. "It is ironic it is the guilty that walk free and it is the innocent who are punished."`
Property developer and philanthropist Clive Armitage revealed his own encounter with youth offenders recently.
"Seven days ago, I was approached by two assailants," he said.
"The first one drew a machete and advanced, the second advanced and had an iron bar.
"They ran, but they will be back and I will be ready for them. "An Englishman's house is his castle."
During the forum, Mr Ryan announced the government would be extending community-based crime action committees to the Darling Downs.
“This is where people who have great ideas about engaging with young people, to keep them away from criminal activities,” he said.
Ms Carroll said there had been a significant rise in crime in the area.
“What you have seen in the last 12 months is correct, there has been a significant rise that we have to get on top of,” she said.
Ms Linard told the audience they were dealing with complex issues in young offenders.
“When a young person comes back into the community they need more intervention and more intensive case management,” she said.
“Many of these young people have complex issues … what we do to intervene has to be equally intensive.”
She said it was only a small number of offenders wreaking havoc.
“The majority of young offenders are diverted after one contact,” she said.
Toowoomba Mayor Paul Antonio said Ms Palaszczuk needed to face the community with confidence that her reforms would make an impact, and before Queensland parliament resumed next Tuesday.
“The ball is very squarely at the feet of the Queensland government to take the necessary steps to discourage this activity,” Mr Antonio said.
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Originally published as Qld police minister mocked at angry Toowoomba crime forum after death
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