Redland victims of crime voice their anger as new commissioner prepares to listen
A newly-appointed official to assist victims of crime is likely to visit a bayside city after aggrieved residents told their horrifying stories on a trip to parliament yesterday.
Redlands Coast
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A newly-appointed official to assist victims of crime is likely to visit a bayside city after aggrieved residents told their horrifying stories on a trip to parliament yesterday.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk told the House she was happy for the newly appointed Victims’ Commissioner Jon Rouse to travel around the state and meet personally with people and to hear their stories.
Ms Palaszczuk said youth crime and the victims’ experiences were serious issues.
She was speaking after the group from Redland, who all claim they are victims of teen crime, met at state parliament on Wednesday, a day after the new Victims’ of Crime chief committee was set up.
Led by Capalaba woman Karen Oliver, the group of seven residents, told their stories of alleged home invasions, violent acts against their families, alleged drunken behaviour, alleged car thefts and the torching of two local playgrounds.
The group’s presence prompted questions to the Premier about youth crime across the state and in Redland, after Capalaba MP Don Brown last week labelled the claims a beat up.
Last month, Police Minister Mark Ryan said the crime statistics for Victoria Point and Thornlands, did not warrant a stand-alone police station but said he would refer the matter to the Police Commissioner to investigate increasing mobile police patrols.
Redland woman Sara Horsey, who manages an NDIS household at Thornlands, joined the group.
Ms Horsey told of the frightening experience her clients were subjected to last month when a gang of youths kicked down the colorbond fence outside their rental property under the cover of darkness.
She said men in her area had started walking the streets at night to keep the neighbourhood safe.
“I know that policing is hard work and we seem to be losing officers when we need greater police presence,” she said.
“My fear is that we will have vigilantes who will take matters into their own hands.
“We can create a commission but what I would like to see is the government taking a proactive approach towards a solution.
“I have to safeguard my clients who live at the property and we have now installed security cameras and lights.
“It was frightening as the noise was very loud and the teens were just running at the fence and ramming it for nearly half an hour.
“These teens have been terrorising this suburb for too long and it’s just got to stop.
“The residents are victims of crime.”
Others to attend the parliamentary sitting included Redland couple Natalie and Adam Ceroni, who have had their house broken into over the past three years.
Ms Ceroni said the crime was becoming progressively more violent.
“It started out as normal vandalism and things like that but it has become aggressive and violent,” she said.
Oodgeroo MP Mark Robinson, whose electorate covers part of Redland city, took up the group’s campaign and called on the Premier to apologise to victims of youth crime.
Burdekin MP Dale Last, from the LNP, also told parliament of the Lewis family, which had been left in a state of shock after their Capalaba home was allegedly invaded by six youths who allegedly walked through their children’s bedrooms while they slept.
“The youth crime crisis is real and it is hurting Redland families, despite what misguided Labor MPs think,” Mr Robinson said.
“Redlanders today told us that cars are stolen, homes are being broken into. There have been violent threats and kids’ playgrounds have been burned down, leaving mums feeling unsafe.
“People are fearful in their own homes. It is real; it is occurring.
“Police are overstretched and feeling overwhelmed. There is widespread community concern in the Redlands at the extent of juvenile criminal activity.
“The crisis and chaos is not being fixed and locals know it.
“Crime is up and police numbers are down.”
Mr Robinson asked the premier to admit there was a youth crime crisis, apologise to Redlands victims of crime and sack Mr Brown.
Mr Brown said he was waiting on the latest police crime statistics for Redland before commenting in depth.
“I am always concerned about individual cases of crime in my electorate and I have worked hard to bring in the toughest youth crime legislation in the country,” he said.
“Crime rates are down in the Capalaba electorate since 2019 and June 23 was the second lowest month in five years.
“Political fear campaigns by local LNP figures are not matched by the stats in the electorate.”
Data from the Queensland Police Service website showed there was approximately a 15 per cent increase in overall offences across the entire Redland city recorded by police over the past two years.
Police recorded a total of 7950 offences for Redland city over the past year, up from 6691 offences recorded the year before.
On Thursday, the state government also announced new police patrol vehicles, designed to tackle on-the-spot crime.
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