The dark link between drugs and youth crime in Townsville

Townsville police are battling a rising trend of reckless youth crime fuelled by hard drugs, with more teens in stolen cars being found under the influence of meth and speed. Find out more.

Townsville police are battling a rising trend of reckless youth crime fuelled by hard drugs, with more teens in stolen cars being found under the influence of meth and speed.

Detective Inspector Jason Shepherd spoke candidly about the changing landscape Townsville’s Property Crime Unit had been seeing on the ground with youth crime.

“Drugs are an issue,” he said. “It seems more kids, mostly in their mid-teens, are using even speed and methamphetamine, which then impacts their behaviour when they’re in these cars. It may also give them that false courage to take even bigger risks.”

He said police are frequently finding youths in possession of drug paraphernalia during arrests.

“Years ago, when you searched a car, you’d find bongs or water pipes for cannabis. Now, it’s glass pipes so there’s definitely been a transition to harder drugs, even with younger people,” DI Shepherd said.

The devastating effects of these drugs are becoming increasingly clear. Some offenders can drive for days without stopping until their bodies simply “crash.”

“There have been times where we’ve literally pulled up next to a car, and the driver’s just out of it,” he said. “They’re just sitting there because their bodies have had enough.”

DI Shepherd also highlighted the role of adults in perpetuating this problem, with some selling drugs to kids or exchanging them for stolen property.

“There’s intel about adults allowing kids to use drugs at certain addresses, and then, obviously, there’s adults who are selling drugs to kids as well or trading for stolen property,” he said.

Police say hard drugs like methamphetamine hsa been fueling some of the reckless youth crime in Townsville.

Another startling trend is the rise in female offenders in the city. Over the past decade, police have seen about a 68 per cent increase in female involvement in youth crime, with many acting as principal offenders now.

“It’s unusual still, but happening more regularly,” DI Shepherd said. “On Wednesday, we got four girls out of one car, whereas when I was first in the Juvenile Aid Bureau in the 90s, you would never have seen that ever.”

Despite these challenges, he remains optimistic, crediting targeted operations for reducing crime.

He says Operation Romney, alongside the use of a new police helicopter, led to a 30 per cent reduction in stolen cars between December 2023 and June 2024.

Townsville Detective Inspector Jason Shepherd. Picture: Evan Morgan

Intensive bail checks, curfews, and collaboration between police units have also played a critical role.

“We are trending down,” DI Shepherd said. “We actually have less property crime now than what we have technically over the last couple of years. And I hope we keep going that way.”

As summer begins, police are preparing for the usual seasonal spike in criminal activity over October, November and December.

“Traditionally, we have more crime in the summer,” he said.

“It’s a combination of a lot of things. People leave for holidays, vacating their homes, and the warmer nights mean offenders are more willing to roam around all night.”

The last few weeks have already seen convoys of stolen cars causing chaos across Townsville.

“We always get those spikes,” DI Shepherd said. “Just last weekend, we had numerous cars stolen in a convoy, but as you’ve seen, we jump on it really quick.”

His advice is to ensure homes are locked up, consider installing security cameras, and communicate with neighbours when going away on holidays.

Originally published as The dark link between drugs and youth crime in Townsville