More cops on the beat in ‘record’ spend to tackle FNQ’s crime crisis
The state is throwing extra police at skyrocketing crime rates in what is being dubbed a “record” spend but concerns have been raised about where jailed youth offenders will be housed.
Cairns
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THE state government is throwing extra police officers at skyrocketing Far North crime rates in what is being dubbed a “record” spend to restore a sense of homeowner safety, but concerns have been raised about where jailed youth offenders will be housed.
The investment in new police announced on Wednesday will eventually deliver a minimum of 150 extra police officers to the Far North.
Additional boots on the ground come as the latest stolen car data logged 31 stolen cars in Cairns and surrounding areas so far this month.
A staggering theft rate of 162 vehicles were recorded in March – an average of 5.4 cars were ripped off every day.
The Atherton Tablelands is first in line for new police made up of two extra officers set to start work at Kuranda and another four officers will be sent to Mareeba off the back of a five year deployment timeline outlined by Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll in July 2020.
Police Commissioner Carroll said additional officers will enhance the Queensland Police Service’s capability respond and investigate crime, but will also “disrupt and prevent criminal behaviour.”
“With so many extra officers being recruited, trained and deployed across the state, it means that we can further enhance our capability to support community safety in every corner of the state,” she said.
However anti-crime advocates say extra police is only part of the solution.
Participants at an anti-crime rally last week called for a public inquiry into the child safety and juvenile justice systems and for parents and guardians to be held accountable for the crimes youth in their care.
Car theft victim turned anti-crime advocate Perri Conti asked where youth offenders will be housed given the 104 bed capacity of the Cleveland Youth Detention Centre.
“We can’t keep building detention centres, we have to get to the root of the problem,” she said.
In the three months to March, officers working with Operation Dryandra arrested 494 people on a total of 2448 charges.
A total of 302 youths outweighed adult arrests that numbered 192.
Police Minister Mark Ryan who was travelling in the Far North with Commissioner Carroll said it was the Commissioner’s responsibility to allocate the extra police resources as she saw fit.
“I know that the Commissioner and her top-ranking officers across the state have a very good understanding of the most effective and efficient deployment of the growing number of officers in the Queensland Police Service,” he said.
“Community safety always comes first and that is why the government is making this historic $600 million-plus investment in police.”
Last week it was announced the Youth Justice Taskforce would have fortnightly panels where a group of agencies would come together to focus on high risk offenders.
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Originally published as More cops on the beat in ‘record’ spend to tackle FNQ’s crime crisis
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