Expert’s message as Qld crime numbers skyrocket

Queensland is on track to record-breaking crime numbers this year as politicians argue about the solution. CHECK CRIME IN YOUR AREA

Queensland is on track to record-breaking crime numbers this year and will possibly record its highest number of offences since 2001, but an expert criminologist says residents need to take home security measures seriously.

Queenslanders committed 561,599 total offences in 2022, but have already committed nearly 300,000 within the first six months of 2023.

Thefts and offences against property skyrocketed, with an extra 52,600 offences recorded between January and June this year compared to the same period last year.

The state has seen a substantial 16 per cent increase in break-ins, equating to an additional 10,000 unlawful entry offences as well as an extra 7600 assaults.

Weapon offences were also up by 1000, and nearly an additional 1000 robberies were committed.

Dr Renee Zahnow of the University of Queensland.

The alarming increase was explained by expert criminologist from the University of Queensland Renee Zahnow as a cultural shift, with crime rising alongside the state’s booming post-Covid population.

She said those living in Brisbane in particular had to accept that it was becoming a real city, and start adapting by taking security measures seriously.

“People need to start taking steps for their own property security and recognising that we just can’t live the way we used to,” she said.

“No more being nonchalant, that just doesn’t fly when you’re a bustling city and that’s what Brisbane is moving toward.

“More police on the street won’t help. We do need more but it won’t prevent break-ins.

“The prevention lies in all of us.”

Brisbane resident Ben Cannon, who rushed to the aid of rugby union legend Toutai Kefu during a terrifying home invasion in August 2021, said it was time the government started putting victims first.

“The community is standing up and saying enough is enough,” he said.

“We’re sick of the same rhetoric, the fact of the matter is, we all know someone who has been affected by crime.

“I know families who tell their kids when they hear something at night to lock their doors with locksmith gear.

“How many Queenslanders have to die for Annastacia Palaszczuk to take responsibility and see the issue is important enough to make actual change?”

Ben Cannon at Queensland Parliament House. He was part of a victims of crime group lobbying the government for tougher laws to deal with youth crime. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli blamed the growing numbers on fewer police and the “watering down” of crime laws eight years ago, saying Queenslanders were demanding real solutions.

“Remove detention as a last resort and deliver gold-standard early intervention, we won’t break the cycle of crime.”

In statistics taken from Queensland Police Ser Open Data, the Gold Coast recorded nearly 500 more break-ins between January and June this year compared to last year, and an extra 4000 theft and offences against property.

Assaults rose by 1000 offences in Far North Queensland and arson was up 52 per cent in Capricornia.

In the Darling Downs, assault-related offences went up by 306, while robberies and weapons offences both nearly doubled.

Logan assault offences shot up by 1000 and robberies increased nearly 50 per cent.

Nearly 2000 extra break-ins were reported in Logan and weapon offences went up 37 per cent.

Meanwhile, Moreton experienced an additional 600 break-ins, and Mount Isa an extra 1000.

More than 3000 extra assaults were recorded in Mackay and Whitsunday, where theft and property damage also shot up 20 per cent.

Harsher increases were seen in Brisbane, with northern suburbs recording 1400 extra break-ins and nearly 7000 more thefts and property offences.

In South Brisbane there were more than 1000 additional assault offences, more than 2400 break-ins and 6000 additional thefts and offences against property compared to 2022, as well as 200 more weapon-related offences.

The South West district recorded 700 extra theft and property offences and break-ins in Wide Bay Burnett went up by 1000, with arson offences also up 78 per cent.

Assault was up 86 per cent on the Sunshine Coast and break-ins 18 per cent.

In Townsville, assault offences increased by 500, theft and property offences by 4000 and weapons offences shot up 17 per cent.

Criminologist Renee Zahnow said offence increases were likely due to increased police activity like knife wanding operations as well as unemployment rates and young people who weren’t in school.

She did agree break-ins were on the rise due to criminals learning to outsmart detection technology and some home security systems.

“Also, many more multi-family homes, where there’s lots of people who know other people’s homes,” she said.

“There’s lots of shared residency, people living with others they don’t know too well and people selling and buying property – not knowing their neighbours.

“It’s reduced informal control.”

Police Minister Mark Ryan. Picture: Steve Pohlner

While Police Minister Mark Ryan acknowledged numbers were “fluctuating”, he said the government was actively working to reduce youth crime and ramp up police numbers in the state, saying police were “aggressively recruiting” both interstate and internationally.

“In total, there are nearly 1300 applications to join the Queensland Police Service in the pipeline,” he said.

“Police are also conducting extreme high-visibility patrols right across the state and the feedback is that these patrols are having a real impact in disrupting and preventing crime and boosting community confidence.”

He said the number of youth offenders were in decline, but “a small cohort” were committing a “disproportionate” number of crimes, while defending laws designed to deter repeat offenders.

“It is those recidivist offenders police and the government are targeting with tough laws, like breach of bail and the presumption against bail,” he said.
Following the intense home invasion that saw Kefu’s family attacked by three juveniles, Mr Cannon became an advocate for victims of crime, and says he’s tired of the government’s remarks about low recidivism.

He said if the government didn’t make real change to the way it deals with repeat youth offenders soon, he would move out of the state.

“I can’t even imagine how bad it’s going to get if we keep letting it go the way it has,” he said.

“If this government gets back in, I’m moving to Bali.”

Shadow Police Minister Dale Last said skyrocketing offences should be a “wake-up call” to the government that the laws weren’t working.

Agreeing with Mr Cannon, Mr Last said the some 50,000 victims of crime in Queensland deserved “real change”.

The 2023-24 State Budget allocated $446 million to combating crime.

Queenslanders are encouraged to sign up to Neighbourhood Watch Australasia’s National Secure Your Home Day event on September 23-24 to receive helpful information and security tips as well as a free home kit to help secure your home.