Where are the hotspots? What are the solutions? Qld youth crime explained
A youth crime crisis is gripping the state – so what can we do about it? ALL YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED
Enough is Enough
Queensland newspapers join forces with a message for our politicians, on behalf of our communities. This is not the state we want – one in the grip of a youth crime epidemic so widespread that readers from the border north to the Cape live in fear that it will be their car, their home or their life that is taken next.
Qld youth crime down but there’s still a major problem
Youth crime has decreased in the last year however there’s been a worrying trend in the type of offences.
Forget adult time, the solution to youth crime is hidden in plain sight
The LNP’s “adult crime, adult time” policy has triggered fierce debate, but hidden in the details is a more sound solution, writes Kylie Lang. VOTE IN OUR POLL
‘Led us where we are’: Crisafulli rejects criticism of youth sentencing plan
The LNP has dismissed concerns from lawyers over a proposed youth justice policy, with leader David Crisafulli confirming he expects judges to look at similar adult cases when sentencing children.
You can’t fight youth crime if you won’t admit there’s a problem
Where you have a denial of the obvious, then there is little hope of eliciting an appropriate response, writes Terry Goldsworthy.
This was a chance to go to war. Instead, Steven Miles danced
Steven Miles could have handed the LNP a rare slapdown, but instead he served up a tap-dancing masterclass, writes state political editor Hayden Johnson.
2000 more cops: Police union’s call amid LNP youth justice pledge
The Queensland Police Union has called for more police and child safety officers as the LNP pledges tougher sentences for juvenile offenders.
Youth crime fix must be about more than winning votes
Labor’s approach to the youth crime crisis has been pathetic, but while the LNP’s latest policy may win votes, it’s unlikely to fix the real problem, writes Kylie Lang.
Vote winner: Stabbing victim’s family backs LNP over govt’s ‘crappy laws’
The family of an Ipswich grandmother allegedly stabbed to death by a teen in a shopping centre carpark has slammed the state government’s youth crime stance and pledged to back the LNP.
‘Enormous pain’: Crime crusader’s push for Kefu home invasion sentence appeal
A youth justice campaigner and neighbour of the Kefu family who went to their rescue during a brutal home invasion says this is the Attorney-General’s chance to fight for victims.
Scathing Auditor-General review: Government’s youth crime crisis failure
Queensland’s Auditor-General has delivered a scathing review of the government’s failure to address the youth crime crisis, stating it was “unclear” whether strategies were reducing repeat offending.
‘Alone, hopeless’: Repeat offending spikes as kid crims kicked to kerb
Child criminals are being released from detention with nowhere to go, no plans and very little support, with a state government report revealing it is helping drive reoffending rates.
Stolen childhoods: DV robbing half of Qld’s youth offenders
At the age of just 13, Marshall was thrown out by his mother after being abused by both parents. He is one of thousands of Queensland youths in the same horror situation. What’s different, is how his story has played out since.
‘Most expensive, least effective’: Report reveals Qld’s catastrophic youth detention figures
A new report claims youth detention in Queensland isn’t working, with up to 96 per cent of offenders committing more crimes within 12 months of being released
Youth boot camps: Steven Miles ‘largely agrees’ with ex-judge’s demands
Premier Steven Miles says he will meet with retired Judge Clive Wall after calls for action to beef up laws, including trialling youth boot camps and three to a cell.
‘It’s working’: Youth crime squad claims win with 1200 charges
A Queensland Police fly-in,fly-out youth crime squad could become a permanent asset as the service reveals a hefty drop in the number of serious repeat offenders.
Final straw as govt ‘rams through’ legislation ahead of election
The state government has been accused of ramming through laws without proper community consultation in the lead-up to the state election.
Serial teen burglar free to murder Emma despite 84 convictions
The teen who murdered Emma Lovell had never spent a day in custody despite an astonishing number of previous convictions.
‘Heinous’: Teen murderer’s shocking act as Emma lay dead
A judge has revealed the callous act of a teenager who stabbed mother-of-two Emma Lovell through the heart, leaving her to bleed to death on her front lawn.
Timeline of tragedy: Qld’s youth crime crisis exposed
Youth crime remains one of Queensland’s biggest challenges. This is how the crisis has unfolded an what happens next. SPECIAL REPORT
‘Just bulls**t’: Taxi, Uber drivers’ fears amid youth crime crisis
Taxi and rideshare drivers are refusing jobs due to safety concerns amid the youth crime crisis plaguing the state, exacerbating driver shortages. One driver has spoken of his alleged assault, calling the police reaction “bulls**t”.
Revealed: How youth gang members are ordering attacks while detained
Juvenile gang members are contacting each other from inside Queensland’s youth detention centres to orchestrate attacks against fellow prisoners and staff, it can be revealed, cheating the system to do it.
Youth crims’ bail breach blow-up: The new data that will terrify Qld families
New data has revealed an astonishing number of bail breaches by young Queensland criminals who are roaming the streets “freewheeling” with no consequences.
Qld’s $1.5m fine threat for social media giants behaving badly
Social media platforms can be hit with fines of up to $1.5m for failing to remove videos glorifying crime or violence in Queensland, under harsh new proposed takedown laws.
No silver bullet: Why youth detention will only end in disaster
Axing detention as a last resort will only lead to more young people being placed in unsafe situations, writes Matt Hawkins.
Minister on soft youth sentences: ‘Don’t blame us, blame the courts’
Youth Justice Minister Di Farmer says it is up the courts, not politicians, to impose harsher sentences, amid damning new Queensland revelations.
No maximum penalties: Youth crime reforms slammed as ‘failed stunt’
The Palaszczuk government’s celebrated 10-point youth crime plan has been slammed as a failure amid revelations no juveniles have been slapped with one of the ‘even tougher’ measures promised. VOTE IN OUR POLL
‘Rent a crowd’: Protesters mocked as Palaszczuk stays away
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has again failed to appear at a rally against youth crime happening outside a building she was in, this time sending a Labor backbencher who proceeded to mock protesters.
Youth criminal drugs bombshell: Govt slammed for ‘desperate’ deflection
Every one of Queensland’s serious youth crime repeat offenders have drug issues, it can be revealed, as the government faces criticism from the LNP over its multimillion-dollar attempt at a solution.
State of fear: Prisoners in our own homes as criminals rule the streets
Fewer than half of Queenslanders feel safe walking alone in their neighbourhoods at night, according to the latest police figures.
Premier’s $250m youth remand move blasted as ‘Band Aid fix’
Youth and community organisations are split on state government plans for a new $250m youth remand centre at Wacol, which is expected to open some time next year. VOTE IN OUR POLL
‘How many more lives?’ Outrage after carer killed in alleged stolen car crash
The “senseless” death of an aged care worker, killed in a crash allegedly caused by a man who had stolen a Mercedes at gunpoint and raced through a school zone, has sparked calls for tougher action on crime.
Editor’s view: It’s time pollies got together on crime
Business as usual will not address Queensland’s youth crime epidemic. Bringing it under control will take a bipartisan approach, writes the editor.
Legal profession’s staggering take-down of Qld’s watch house move
The Palaszczuk government’s legislation for adult watch houses to be used as youth detention centres would likely lead to a rise in crime, the legal profession has said in a scathing attack.
‘Race to the bottom’: Plea over heavy-handed youth justice move
In an open letter to Qld politicians, Margaret McMurdo slams the “law and order” focus on young offenders. But the Acting Premier says some of the criticism is unfair.
Stop this mad race to the bottom on youth justice
Both sides of politics in Queensland need to end the race to the bottom on youth justice issues and instead jointly adopt policies that are known to work, writes Margaret McMurdo.
Warning: Qld could be forced into big pay outs after youth justice move
Extraordinary new laws stripping children of their rights will open the state government up to civil claims and potential pay outs, leading lawyers warn.
Editor’s view: Labor faithful must lament a govt that’s lost its way
The clock is ticking on a government that has lost its way. Change must come, and all who believe in the Labor movement must demand it, writes the editor.
Kids held ‘indefinitely’ as watch houses to become youth prisons
Queensland’s police watch houses will be declared official youth prisons under an extraordinary suite of emergency laws which override the human rights act.
Blindsided: Crime victim dragged into secret meeting alone with Premier
Hours after the Premier snubbed a rally, it has emerged the husband of Emma Lovell was dragged into a secret one-on-one under false pretences.
Youth crime shockwave as crackdown targets slip away
Key metrics that experts said would lead to a reduction in youth crime are actually getting worse, despite the state government’s pledge to crack down on the scourge, new figures show.
Yet another lost shot at being honest
Despite promising to make these crucial youth justice statistics known, neither the Premier, the Youth Justice Minister nor Police Minister have said a word, writes Stephanie Bennett.
Editor’s view: Numbers just appalling as govt fails to arrest youth crime
Queensland’s youth crime crisis is not getting any better, and the statistics show that in black and white, writes the editor.
Katter’s radical youth crime crisis solution: Send them to the bush
Katter’s Australian Party has launched a bold plan designed to intensively rehabilitate youth offenders as the state battles a crime scourge.
Editor’s view: Stop the excuses, act now on our youth crime crisis
There’s no point in parliament enacting laws to ensure our worst repeat offenders are not released to wreak havoc if the courts do not apply the legislation’s intent, writes the editor.
‘Generation of untouchables’: Courts attacked as crime ramps up
Both the Police Minister and our top cop have challenged courts to “use all the tools in their toolbox” to crack down on brazen and violent crims, as the opposition accuses the state of being in denial about the threat and frequency of crime.
Home invasion horror: Qld’s timeline of teen terror
Youth crime has long plagued Queensland but it’s going nowhere if these cases of home invasion horrors are to go by.
‘Can’t go on’: LNP hits Labor with home truths on youth crime
Opposition Leader David Crisafulli will use the LNP state conference to call out the government’s youth crime record.
Explosive leaked emails expose cop crisis allowing criminals to run rampant
Leaked emails from a Gold Coast cop have laid bare a chronic shortage of experienced police amid a crime crisis, the officer revealing dozens of calls per shift that police can’t attend.
‘Name and shame’: Heartbroken mum of group bashing victim speaks
The mother of a Gold Coast teen savagely bashed by an alleged gang of youths has called for serious child criminals to be named and shamed as she speaks out for the first time. Read her heartbreaking plea.
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