Drop-in centre could help combat youth crime in Mareeba

Moves are afoot to give young people in a Far North town options other than roaming the streets at night causing problems.

AN independently-run youth drop-in centre could curtail a burgeoning youth crime problem in Mareeba and resident John McGuire plans to seek business support for the idea.

“There has been a real increase in youth crime, but not all of the kids in a group are bad eggs, if we could get them into a centre, the ones with problems get some assistance and there’d be less graffiti, property damage, break-ins,” Mr McGuire said.

Mareeba PCYC offers a range of activities including Outside School Hours care, recreational and cultural activities, youth development programs and a 24/7 gym. It has a youth support officer and programs aimed at enhancing self esteem and life skills. Picture: supplied.

“Crime has increased, and some of the crimes are becoming more violent.

“We do have the PCYC but kids don’t always want to go to PCYC because of the association with police, or a church group, they don’t want to be involved,” he said.

He envisages applying for government funding but hopes local businesses will also get on board.

“If the rent is $500 a week and one business can contribute $50 a week toward that, it helps, or it might be a pack of sausages or half a dozen pizzas on a Friday night,” Mr McGuire said.

“It’s going to get to the stage where someone will get hurt, and I don’t want to see anyone get hurt – there are a lot of homeowners who aren’t happy because the offenders are known to the police, they do it Monday morning and by Friday they are out doing it again.”

Meanwhile, Mareeba PCYC is hoping to extend its services into evenings to provide a drop-in centre for at-risk youth.

PCYC Sergeant Mary-Anne West has put a call out for volunteers to help staff the centre.

She said PCYC was at capacity with programs running at present from 3pm to 5pm Monday to Friday.

Originally published as Drop-in centre could help combat youth crime in Mareeba