Fly-in fly-out rapid response police squads locked in for five years

A rapid response police unit flying to crime hotspots is being claimed as effective as the Queensland Government releases arrest figures from its Queensland operations.

Between April 30 and May 6 Queensland Police Service officers will be deployed to the Far North to disrupt crime. Picture: Supplied

A rapid response police unit flying to crime hotspots is being claimed as effective as the Queensland Government releases arrest figures from its Queensland operations.

Deputy Commissioner Cheryl Scanlon said the State Flying Squad was currently deployed in Cairns where its officers had worked through 500 charges among 200 offenders, showing how effective it had been in short periods of time.

“We target adults, but we also sweep up juveniles in amongst that work, and there have been significant results,” she said.

Queensland Police Flying Squad officers locate and arrest an Edmonton boy accused of entering a home and demanding car keys from the occupant . Picture: QPS

“Yes, they are high risk high crime offenders, and that’s what this is about, that surge capacity,

so that the state flying squad who are coming in to support front line police in reducing those high risk high harm individuals.”

Premier David Crisafulli, who spoke alongside the Deputy Commissioner and Police Minister Dan Purdie at the Upper Mount Gravatt Police Station on Monday, said results justified why the flying squad needed to be made permanent.

The government so far has committed $32.4m in funding the unit over five years.

“Now, the flying squad works effectively when you have local police that are well resourced and being able to do their job,” he said.

“And they come in over the top, not to plug holes, but it’s an extra surge capacity as a way of just growing a real focus on a particular issue at the time.”

Queensland Police Flying Squad officers locate and arrest an Edmonton boy. Picture: QPS

Originally published as Fly-in fly-out rapid response police squads locked in for five years