Program prevents repeat offending

A police program targeting children on the “cusp” of becoming repeat juvenile offenders is turning most of them back to school, with more than half never committing another crime.

A police program targeting children on the “cusp” of becoming repeat juvenile offenders is turning most of them back to school, with more than half never committing another crime.

Project Booyah is among the programs set up by the Queensland Police Service in an effort to turn at-risk children away from a life of crime.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles last week admitted there had “clearly” been an increase in youth crime after a Productivity Commission report revealed Queensland had the highest rate of youth reoffending in the country.

It came after a 43-year-old man was stabbed to death, allegedly by a 17-year-old boy with a 45cm knife, as he walked home to his Wilston unit a week ago.

A month earlier, Brisbane mother Emma Lovell, 41, was stabbed to death during a home invasion. Two boys have been charged with her murder.

A group of youths recently completed a Project Booyah program in Ipswich.

A total of 85 children participated in the 16 week police mentoring program throughout 2022, with 82 per cent completing a Cert II Foundation Skills Training qualification. Of the 85, 77 per cent went back to school, 46 per cent went on to further education or training, 33 per cent engaged in work experience and 28 per cent gained employment.

Acting Inspector James Steginga said Project Booyah participants often came from complex or disadvantaged backgrounds, were generally disengaged from school and suffered from social isolation.

He said some had mild mental health issues or abused drugs and alcohol. Some have been victims of assaults or sexual abuse.

“Having committed crimes is one of the major factors (that would see a youth referred to the program) but it is not always the case,” he said.

“Some have been participants in high risk behaviours or have family relationship issues.

“And they generally don’t only have one of those issues.”

Insp Steginga said the stories of many of the course participants were heartbreaking.

He said he participated in a day of abseiling at Kangaroo Point with a course group of teenage boys when he overheard one of the participants make a comment.

“He was hanging off the side of the cliff leaning back and the co-ordinator said to him, ‘it’s alright mate, I’ve got your back’,” Insp Steginga said.

“And he said ‘that’s good, because no-one ever has before’.

“You hear that one comment and you think, you know what? We’re doing a good thing.”

Insp Steginga said the course, run by police and youth workers, focused on positive relationships.

“They’ll say, ‘tell me 10 things about a positive relationship and tell me 10 things about a negative relationship,” he said.

“They (the youths) can fill a board with the negative, but when it comes to a positive relationship, it’s generally very limited.”

He said the changes police see in the course participants throughout the 16 weeks was “massive”.