Youth crime Queensland: Police Minister Mark Ryan doubles down on claims courts not locking kids up properly

Queensland’s Police Minister has doubled down on his stinging rebuke to magistrates that they’re not locking up youth criminals properly, repeating his extraordinary comments an incredible eight times in a lively interview.

POLICE Minister Mark Ryan has doubled down on his extraordinary comments about the Queensland courts, repeating eight times that the State Government believes its youth justice legislation is clear.

The Minister gave a stinging rebuke to magistrates following an announcement about cracking down on youth crime yesterday, claiming the courts were not properly locking up young criminals.

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His comments have since drawn criticism, including from Civil Liberties Council Vice-President Terry O’Gorman who said, “If police are too lazy to appeal bail decisions, don’t blame the magistrates.”

But Mr Ryan this morning said he stood by his comments.

“We think the intention of the legislation is clear and that is community safety comes first,” he said.

Asked in what instances were the courts getting it wrong, given the laws do not remove discretionary powers for magistrates, Mr Ryan repeated: “We think the legislation is clear and that is that community safety comes first.”

Asked whether the laws needed to change, the Minister again repeated: “Well as I said, the legislation in our view is clear and that is the number one priority is community safety.”

Police minister Mark Ryan speaks in Townsville as he attempts to address youth crime issues in the state’s north. PICTURE: MATT TAYLOR.

“If for whatever reason that intention is not clear then obviously we’ll look at options to make it clear.”

Mr Ryan said the Government was looking at the processes regarding police prosecutors appealing decisions of magistrates.

“... and obviously as part of the strategy we announced yesterday there was some additional resourcing to go towards police prosecutors to make sure that they’re putting the best case forward in respect of those decisions around remanding serious recidivist offenders and also resourcing around looking at those decisions the courts are making,” he said.

In response to criticism from the Civil Liberties Council which also said the Government was blaming magistrates in an election year, Mr Ryan again repeated, “We think the legislation is clear and look no one is immune from criticism.”

“Just because you don’t agree with someone doesn’t mean you’re not allowed to criticise them,” he said.

“We live in a democracy, everyone is able to have a comment about whether they agree with something.

“Just because a court makes a decision doesn’t mean they’re immune from criticism.”

Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said the legislation was being looked to see whether aspects could be reviewed.

Asked whether there should have been more instances where prosecutors appealed decisions, she said you could “always keep learning” from complex matters.