Assistant Commissioner Mark Wheeler has faith in the state government’s new crime laws
Townsville’s new top cop has revealed his stance on the state government’s new youth justice laws, while a NQ MP claims the changes are merely a small step forward.
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TOWNSVILLE’S new top cop has faith in the state government’s new youth justice laws, saying time will tell just how much of a dent it puts in the city’s crime levels.
Meanwhile, Opposition police spokesman Dale Last said passing the new laws was a “very small step” in a long journey to create change.
On Thursday, amendments to the state’s new youth bail laws were passed in parliament, allowing magistrates to impose GPS trackers on serious offenders aged 16 and 17, creating a presumption against bail for youth offenders and seeking the assurance from parents their children will comply with bail if granted.
The changes officially came into effect 10 weeks after they were announced by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, after the Townsville Bulletin pressed the government to make serious changes to solve the region’s crime epidemic after months of relentless crime.
The changes were announced almost three weeks after young motorcyclist Jennifer Board was killed in a horrific crash involving an alleged stolen car on Ross River Rd.
The suite of changes has divided the community, with many calling for breach of bail to be reintroduced as an offence at a series of regional hearings taking feedback on the amendments.
Mr Last said he was disappointed that it wasn’t reinstated, despite the committee hearing it “loud and clear” on their regional whirlwind tour.
“I am hopeful it will make a difference but I fear that this crime epidemic that we’ve seen over the last few years will continue,” he said.
“Not all solutions to the juvenile crime problem will come through changes to legislation … a lot of changes can happen outside the scope of parliament.”
Northern Region Assistant Commissioner Mark Wheeler said despite the criticism, he had faith in the reforms.
“Some of these changes are quite significant … and when you do these things you have to do them in trials,” Mr Wheeler said.
“We want to make sure we get it perfect, and then see what happens in 12 months.”
Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said, while on a trip to Townsville, that the changes had meant a lot of collaboration and training for those on the ground.
“Large reform can be challenging but I think in this respect, all departments, we are on the same page with this,” Ms Carroll said.
In about six months, Ms Carroll said former commissioner Bob Atkinson would evaluate the changes.
Originally published as Assistant Commissioner Mark Wheeler has faith in the state government’s new crime laws
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