LNP push for introduction of breach of bail to address Townsville’s ‘youth crime crisis’

‘We are seeing the government losing control of youth crime and it’s impacting everyday Queenslanders’: Crisafulli

LEADER of the Opposition David Crisafulli has emphasised the need to introduce breach of bail as offence following the latest “youth crime crisis” in Townsville.

“We are seeing the government losing control of youth crime and it’s impacting everyday Queenslanders,” Mr Crisafulli said.

“You cannot continue to have the same faces out on the streets committing another crime just with a different set of victims

“That’s the reality at the moment. We have been upfront with the government, breach of bail must be an offence for young offenders and I’m not sure why the government doesn’t just swallow its pride and get on with it,” he said.

Member for Burdekin Dale Last said the assault rate in Townsville was three times higher than that in the Southeast corner of the state.

“The breach of domestic violence is four times higher than the rest of the state, unlawful entry is up, unlawful use of a motor vehicle is up and the people of Townsville who are living through this every single day are sick of their homes being broken into,” Mr Last said.

“This huge crime wave has been going on now for four long years. Young offenders, particularly this hardcore group of young offenders are out there day in day out, basically, operating with impunity.

“There needs to be a process put in place to put a stop to this, there needs to be more work in the early intervention, there needs to be more work at post release, we need to be bringing back things like breach of bail to give the police the resources that they need to be able to address this issue,” he said.

A spokesperson for the Police Minister, Mark Ryan, said everyone in the community deserves to feel safe.

Minister for Police and Corrective Services and Minister for Fire and Emergency Services, Mark Ryan. Picture: Liam Kidston.

“No instance of crime is acceptable,” they said.

“That is why the government has introduced the strongest Youth Justice laws in the nation.

Police say the presumption against bail for repeat offenders is working, with more than 100 extra young offenders now locked up compared to a year ago.

“The government is also making the biggest investment in policing in Queensland in 30 years. That investment that will deliver more than 2,000 extra police personnel, including a minimum of 150 extra police officers for the Northern Region that includes Townsville.

“The government is investing heavily in programs to stop young people offending in the first place and holding those who do commit crime to account.

The spokesperson said the LNP’s call for the return of “breach of bail” was an absurdity because “you can’t bring back something that never existed”.

“The fact is, breach of bail never existed under the LNP.

“What the LNP did was introduce an unworkable law that made it an offence to commit an offence while on bail for another offence.

“It didn’t work as a deterrent and wasn’t regularly used by the courts because it proved so unwieldy,” the spokesperson said.

Mr Crisafulli said it was a shame that Townsville had reached a point where stolen cars was becoming normalised.

“Townsville, is a great city. It’s a city that’s got a diverse economy, a great lifestyle, and a group of young thugs who know their way around the law, destroying people’s lifestyle.

“If the government says that their laws are working, I would suggest to you they aren’t listening,” he said.

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Originally published as LNP push for introduction of breach of bail to address Townsville’s ‘youth crime crisis’