Crime statistics increase in Hervey Bay

The staggering number of stolen cars and violent crimes in the once-quiet coastal mecca of Hervey Bay has led to a stoush between state leaders just hours after a wild police chase through the city’s streets.

Hervey Bay is a city under siege.

That’s the message the State’s Opposition spokesman for police had on Tuesday as he spoke on the Esplanade, the scene of a recent wild pub brawl and just hours after police in nearby Kawungan put out spikes to stop another alleged car thief.

In a statement, LNP MP Dale Last said escalating crime threatened to “rip the heart out of Hervey Bay”, which despite its increasingly seedy side, continues to draw retirees and young families looking for a seachange.

“The most recent police statistics show that Unlawful Use of a Motor Vehicle offences in Hervey Bay are now happening every day,” Mr Last said.

“We saw a peak in April 2021 and, 12 months later, the same thing happened.”

According to Queensland MyPolice data, Unlawful Use of Motor Vehicle offences have nearly tripled since February this year in Hervey Bay.

The data shows there were 11 recorded Unlawful Use of Motor Vehicle offences in February 2022 which increased to 30 in April.

Mr Last urged the State Government to take action before Hervey Bay “joined the ever-growing list” of Queensland cities surrounded by youth crime.

“The fact that we are seeing such regular spikes in such serious crimes proves that the current approach to youth justice is not working,” Mr Last said in a statement.

The former police officer added it was “deeply concerning” Hervey Bay was also seeing an increase in crimes like serious assault.

Police and Corrective Services Minister Mark Ryan told The Chronicle any instance of crime was “unacceptable”.

“That’s why the government is making the biggest investment in policing in more than 30 years to deliver more than 2000 extra police personnel,” Mr Ryan said.

“In stark contrast, Dale Last and the LNP went to the last state election committed to slashing the number of extra police personnel the government is delivering by more than two thirds.”

He said Hervey Bay police relentlessly targeted those offenders who broke the law.

“In relation to the government’s historic investment in police, the Police Commissioner has said that investment will deliver a minimum of 150 extra police to the region that includes Hervey Bay,” he said.

“And the government has the strongest youth justice laws in the nation with the presumption against bail resulting in more offenders being locked up for longer.”