Former Detective Superintendent Mark Ainsworth says new approach needed for youth crime

A respected former senior detective says Queenslanders are “fearful” of what’s happening in the community and an “out of the box” solution is needed. VOTE IN OUR POLL

• What it’s like living next to youth hell house

A respected former senior detective has called for an “out of the box” approach to tackling youth crime, including making parents financially responsible for their children’s crimes and sending repeat offenders to a rural training and education centre.

Former Detective Superintendent Mark Ainsworth, who headed the investigation into Allison Baden-Clay’s murder and has worked on six royal commissions, said Queenslanders are now “fearful” of what’s happening in their community.

He said he believes today’s youth crime crisis could be, in part, attributed to children born during the “baby bonus” era.

In a post Mr Ainsworth shared to LinkedIn, he wrote that tougher penalties did nothing to rehabilitate young repeat offenders.

Former Detective Superintendent Mark Ainsworth. Picture: Jamie Hanson

“What about the introduction of a diversion centre in remote Queensland where recidivist offenders (youth) are sent,” he wrote.

“This centre (mobile phone/social media free) should host education, trade skills and respect for attendees.

“A highly disciplined centre that won’t cop crap from these kids. Who knows, kids in this type of establishment may enjoy the opportunities provided – shelter over their heads, education and close supervision.”

He also wrote that the accountability of parents and guardians needed to be at the forefront of legislative change.

“This has been talked about for many years including parents/guardians paying restitution for crimes committed by their children,” Mr Ainsworth wrote.

Mr Ainsworth told The Sunday Mail he felt terrible for frontline police who were doing their best to respond to repeat offenders with limited resources.

“What’s happening at the moment is certainly not working,” he said.

“The kids end up in a youth detention centre … they are mingling with other kids (and) coming out part of a gang.

“It’s getting to the stage where I think people are fearful of what’s happening in the community and we’ve never had this fear before.

“How do you address it? There has to be something new to try.”

The idea of a “diversion centre” was also raised recently by Russell and Ann Field, whose son Matthew, partner Kate Leadbetter and their unborn son Miles were killed by a teen in a stolen car.

In a recent interview with The Sunday Mail, Mr Field said recidivist juvenile offenders should be sent to a “re-education facility” where they are taught life skills.

“Somewhere where they can teach these kids how to write a resume, finish their education,” he said.

“Teach them how to get a job, teach them how to run their finances, teach them how to invest, so when they come out of these facilities … they go away with their head held high.

“If the parents aren’t going to discipline them and teach them respect … grab them and take them out of their comfort zone and drum it into them.

“It’s possible for people to go from their lifestyle to (being) something.”