Taskforce Guardian, Cairns police blitz results in 111 charged with 355 offences

A targeted police operation in Cairns city involving specialist officers from across the state has resulted in 111 people charged with a total of 355 offences in just one week.

More than 100 people, mostly youths, have been charged in one week in Cairns as part of a targeted police blitz in the CBD: Annabel Bowles

A targeted police operation in Cairns city involving specialist officers from across the state has resulted in 111 people charged with a total of 355 offences in just one week.

Acting Detective Inspector Alina Bell said the operation, which ran from June 15 to 21 and included the statewide “flying squad” known as Taskforce Guardian was just one of many proactive efforts to deter offending before it escalated.

“By us saturating these areas and ensuring police are present, we do see a reduction in those people displaying that anti-social behaviour,” she said.

Acting Detective Inspector Alina Bell is part of a key taskforce of police concentrating on youth crime and antisocial behavoiur in the Cairns CBD area. Photos by Brendan Radke.

“We will not tolerate anti-social behaviour and we want everyone living and visiting here to feel safe.”

Inspector Bell said the bulk of the charges including property offences and public nuisance matters, however the operation also saw police conduct bail checks.

The operation included city beat officers, police liaison officers and youth justice workers as well as the Cairns Anti-Social and Public Space Team.

Taskforce Guardian’s work alone resulted in 34 people – 31 of which were youths – charged with 107 offences.

It marked the team’s 10th deployment to the Cairns region since it was launched in May last year.

Originally published as Taskforce Guardian, Cairns police blitz results in 111 charged with 355 offences