Frustrations grow for police as juvenile offenders get “slap on the wrist” at Southport Children’s Court

Frustration is mounting among Gold Coast police with what they say is a “revolving door policy” for juvenile offenders.

FRUSTRATION is growing among Gold Coast police with what officers say is a revolving door policy at the Southport Children’s Court.

Officers are complaining about a growing list of names of known offenders who have been given bail or walked from court with a slap on the wrist on a slew of charges.

One source told the Bulletin they were seeing the same faces in stolen cars, break and enters and stealing jobs on a regular basis.

“We arrest them and they’re straight back out on the street,” a source said.

Another told the Bulletin that imposed curfews and other court orders did little to stop young offenders.

“They don’t care. You go to their home and their parents don’t care,’’ the source said.

“It’s a constant battle but there’s not much we can do on top of arresting them. There’s got to be some accountability in the home and (for) the other government departments to do something about them.”

Joe Wicking has noticed a number of juvenile offences relating to motor vehicles. Photographer Philip Norrish

Howden Saggers Lawyers solicitor Joe Wicking said he had noticed a large number of juveniles going through the court system on charges of unlawful use of motor vehicles.

“There was a real spate of it in the middle of the year and it has not really let up since,” he said.

Mr Wicking said many of the juveniles taken before the courts would have a least one charge relating to stolen cars.

Assistant Police Commissioner Brian Wilkins said officers were scrutinising young criminals closely on the Gold Coast.

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“(We have) a very, very strong focus on reducing youth recidivism,” he said.

“At the end of the day, I’m not going to solve youth crime in my lifetime, but you’ve got to break the cycle, you’ve got to change the behaviour.

“Unfortunately there is going to be a small minority of youth that we aren’t going to turn around, and that’s the reality.

Assistant Commissioner Brian Wilkins believes there are only a “small minority” of youths who will not change. Picture: Jerad Williams

“We’ve got a core group of kids that aren’t going to change, and they will be targeted and arrested and prosecuted and that’s what will continue to happen.”

He said police were working with other agencies to try to steer young offenders away from crime.

“It’s not something that police can do alone. It’s about us and all government departments … working together and not just doing our 10 per cent alone. We come together and do all our bit together, which can have a far greater impact,’’ he said.

“We have to break the cycle and change the behaviour, otherwise the eight-year-olds of today are going to be career criminals by the time they’re 18.

“We need to question why this is happening and look at addressing all the surrounding issues, to give them a better option in life.

“Working with the young offenders does make a difference – break the cycle, change the behaviour.’’