Police reveal they were unaware of new youth justice reforms before announcement

North Queensland police had no idea sweeping youth justice reforms would be announced when the state government dropped its bombshell legislation revamp, a top Townsville officer has revealed.

New reforms to tackle youth crime were announced by the state government. Photo Nicholas Falconer / Sunshine Coast Daily

North Queensland police had no idea sweeping youth justice reforms would be announced when the state government dropped its bombshell legislation revamp, a top Townsville officer has revealed.

On Thursday the state government announced a suite of youth justice reforms aimed at tackling juvenile car thieves.

Policing-specific measures were among the listed reforms, which include higher maximum penalties and jail terms for stealing a car, and a $9.89m “fast-track” sentencing program in courts across the state.

But speaking in Townsville on Friday, Acting Inspector Scot Warrick said the Queensland Police Service had only been made aware of the reforms at the same time as the public.

“We found out on the date obviously that it was released,” Inspector Warrick said.

Acting Inspector Scot Warrick speaks to media in Townsville on Friday, December 30.

“ … While we weren’t aware before the public of those new issues coming out, I can assure you (that) as soon as we are made aware of them being implemented and becoming policy, we will be in a position to put our police into that role and make those changes.”

He said “new ideas” and “new plans” that “might make a difference” to the growing concerns and instances of youth crime were welcomed, however he wasn’t sure what it would mean for officers on the ground.

“As people before me have said, it’s (youth crime) a very complicated issue, so whether that (new penalties) is going to make a difference, I can’t say yes or no, I can’t answer that question directly,” Inspector Warrick said.

“What I can say from a Townsville perspective – we are paying close attention to the new ideas and plans that are coming out … how it’s going to fit into us locally, we’re yet to work that out.”

The announced reforms include higher maximum penalties for juvenile car thieves, such as increased jail terms.

The reforms come as Queenslanders mourn the December 26 murder of 41-year-old Emma Lovell, who was allegedly killed while defending her North Lakes home from teenage intruders.

In a joint announcement detailing the measures on Thursday, Police Minister Mark Ryan said the reforms would include ‘Extreme High Visibility’ police patrols in “strategic locations at certain times”, as well as “elevated surveillance”.

When asked what an extreme high visibility patrol would mean, Inspector Warrick said it was a strategy of policing.

“Part of high visibility patrolling is not just showing the offenders that we’re out there, looking for them … it’s to let people know we’re here, come talk to us, we want to work in partnership with you,” he said.

“That is the direction we’re going with that term.”

Specifics into the locations that would be targeted in patrols could not be given, Inspector Warrick said, due to the ever-changing location of youth crime hot spots.

Despite the uncertainty ahead, he said police would continue to do their job to “investigate, prevent and disrupt” instances of youth crime as they occurred.

“What I can say is that police here and around the state are committed to working with our partners for youth crime,” he said.

“I understand the public are upset, the public are angry and I don’t blame them for that; our police will continue to turn up every day, we will use every resource available to us, that is both internal resources, as well as other government agencies … whatever we can do to divert youth out of the youth justice system.”

A government spokesman said advice from QPS helped frame government policy because the state wants police and the courts to have the tools they need to keep the community safe.

“The Commissioner joined the announcement of these policies,” the spokesman said. “Some will need legislative change.

“Others are operational and the responsibility of QPS and other departments.

“The Premier made plain the primary objective of longer custodial sentences for violent crimes is community safety.”

Originally published as Police reveal they were unaware of new youth justice reforms before announcement