Editorial: Sign little has changed with juvenile offenders’ posts and boasts

The fact that police have charged 200 people for boasting about crime on social media since August suggests little has changed, writes the editor.

A post-and-boast car thief on TikTok

The most infuriating aspect of Queensland’s youth crime crisis is the apparent impunity with which young thugs act.

Conditioned by a cycle of arrest, bail and release, these criminals think they can get away with anything – and who could blame them. They have and they do.

Many choose to taunt police, victims and even the Premier over this apparent shield from consequence that they possess. Social media companies, so they claim at least, can do little to stop this sort of content.

Last month we uncovered a series of videos made by balaclava-clad car thieves in a stolen car, which included the caption, “Sorry David Crisafulli.”

His reply: “Bring it on”.

Today we report how this “post and boast” mentality is landing kid crims in trouble, thanks to expanded laws and proactive policing where boasters are identified, tracked down and charged.

Data from Queensland police released through a Question on Notice in Parliament showed 195 people had been charged for offences relating to social media since August 2024.

And 170 people were unlawfully using or possessing a motor vehicle while boasting on social media.

These charges came after laws were expanded by the previous government in August, creating a stand-alone offence for publishing material on social media – thus allowing Queensland Police to take action on those posting online. The charge carries a maximum penalty of two years in jail.

Of course, none of this really means anything if offenders, especially repeat offenders, are not locked up after being held on remand until facing court. If they receive bail so they can get out on the street and offend again – after taunting victims and police – the laws are next to useless and the cycle is just perpetuated. In fact the criminals become emboldened.

But that is up to the courts. The cops have done their bit by tasking officers from the Digital Intelligence and Community Engagement team to track down these videos, and then identify the people behind them.

It must be a sweet moment for an officer to track down a car thief, who has only been caught because their hubris caused them to mock their victims online.

And it must be shattering for that officer if the alleged offender is granted bail and then commits another offence.

Of course, the link in this chain that does its best to avoid scrutiny and abrogate responsibility is the social media companies, without which the criminals have nowhere to share their sick boasts.

When she assumed her position as Australia’s eSafety Commissioner last year, Julie Inman Grant spoke of how social media had been used to glorify criminal behaviour while fostering a network effect of imitation crimes.

She was hopeful, however, that the industry would take steps to address that.

“Collaboration with industry is crucial, and I was very happy to welcome representatives from many social media platforms to the discussion,” she said at the time.

“They were very candid about what they are currently doing as well as their limitations.”

The fact that police have charged 200 people for boasting about crime on social media since August suggests little has changed.

TIME TO RIGHT A WRONG

The fact Chelsea Warr has been encouraged to reapply for her old job at the Queensland Academy of Sport gives this state the opportunity to right a wrong.

Sport Minister Tim Mander has revealed the search for a new CEO at the academy will begin soon, and while he said he had “a lot of time for Chelsea” he also declared he wanted “people of her calibre” to apply.

Good luck finding someone else as qualified at Chelsea Warr!

Ms Warr took UK sport from when the British Olympic team won a single gold medal in 1996 to total domination in its home Games in London in 2012, and in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. Her talent identification program there is legend among high-performance practitioners worldwide. And she’s a Queenslander.

Ms Warr left her position at QAS last February to pursue other opportunities, with her exit prompting a push to have the academy operate as a separate entity from government.

Following advocacy from The Courier-Mail, then-premier Steven Miles began that process of separation last July, which Ms Warr at the time described as a “game-changing decision”.

The simple fact is Ms Warr needs to be driving talent identification, development and high performance in the lead-up to the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

That Queensland almost lost her is deeply embarrassing.

Responsibility for election comment is taken by Chris Jones, corner of Mayne Rd & Campbell St, Bowen Hills, Qld 4006. Printed and published by NEWSQUEENSLAND (ACN 009 661 778). Contact details here

Originally published as Editorial: Sign little has changed with juvenile offenders’ posts and boasts