Youth crime Qld: New data shows 1188 young criminals clocked up 9049 bail breaches in one year

New data has revealed an astonishing number of bail breaches by young Queensland criminals who are roaming the streets “freewheeling” with no consequences.

Young Queensland criminals clocked up an astonishing 9049 bail breaches in just one year, shocking new data reveals.

Queensland Government figures show in the year to March, 1188 juvenile offenders aged 10 to 17 breached bail 9049 times, an average of more than seven times each.

The numbers come just days after Premier Steven Miles announced the government would reword the clause for “detention as a last resort” in youth justice laws to include a direction that children be detained if it “ensures community safety”.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli, who had promised to completely remove the detention as a last resort clause if elected in October, said kids were “freewheeling” with no consequences.

“These (breach of bail) numbers speak for themselves and show the result of weaker laws and fewer police,” he said.

“While detention remains a last resort in Queensland, the breach of bail laws won’t be able to have the teeth that’s needed and the revolving door of youth justice will keep spinning.”

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Russell Field at a Voice for Victims rally in Brisbane. Picture: Richard Walker

Russell Field’s son Matt was killed alongside his partner Kate Leadbetter and their unborn child Miles at Alexandra Hills on Australia Day, 2021, when a drunk and drugged teenager sped through a red light in a stolen car, hit them and fled the scene.

The 17-year-old responsible was sentenced to 10 years’ jail – to be released on the anniversary of their deaths in 2027.

Mr Field, who now advocates for victims of crime, said soaring bail breaches were further proof of a broken system.

“They keep saying rehabilitation, but somewhere along the lines the judges keep letting them out,” he said.

“I’ve been waiting for three years for change and there is still no real deterrent.”

Russell and Ann Field whose son Matthew Field was killed a teen driving a stolen car. Picture: Liam Kidston

Mr Field said while he would never get closure, he hoped to enact change to save other families from the same fate.

“The kid that killed my Matt, Kate and Miles had 130 prior offences, including 20-something relating to cars, and he got let out time and time again,” he said.

“We know what needs to be done but they just don’t have the balls to do it.”

Fellow victim-of-crime advocate Natalie Cirone, who started a local support group after her husband was assaulted and her Thornlands home broken into multiple times, called the breach of bail numbers “ridiculous”.

Matt Field and Kate Leadbetter were killed, along with their unborn child when a drunk and drugged teenager sped through a red light in a stolen car, hit them and fled the scene.

“It’s quite sickening to be honest that repeat offenders are continually let out on bail,” she said.

Police Minister Mark Ryan said the bail breach figures showed law changes made last year to make breach of bail an offence were working.

“The number of offenders charged with this offence demonstrates the dedicated efforts of police to ensure that bail conditions are being complied with,” he said.

“Breach of bail as an offence is just one of many strategies being employed to deal with youth justice issues.”