Queensland election 2017: LNP plans curfew for Townsville youths

IN a Queensland first, the LNP has committed to a six-month trial of a curfew for children under 16 roaming the streets after 10pm unless in the company of a parent or adult guardian in a town besieged by a youth crime problem.

A CURFEW banning kids from the streets late at night will be introduced to tackle Townsville’s youth crime issue should the LNP be elected.

In a Queensland first, the LNP has committed to a six-month trial of a curfew for children under 16 roaming the streets after 10pm unless in the company of a parent or adult guardian.

Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls has also committed to holding parents of young offenders in Townsville accountable by stopping welfare payments when their children are in youth detention.

Mr Nicholls said the curfew strategy was part of a comprehensive $25.9 million North Queensland Crime Action Plan that would be released in full today.

“We will implement a six-month, $1.3 million youth curfew strategy named Operation Townsville Safe Streets to help residents get their community back,” Mr Nicholls said.

“Young kids found roaming Townsville streets will be collected by police and looked after at a local emergency accommodation shelter until they can be safely returned to their parents.

“The shelter will be staffed with a counsellor and nurse to ensure the wellbeing of the child, while ensuring the community is protected.”

Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls, pictued with LNP candidate for Townsville Casie Scott, has pledged to tackle youth crime head-on. Picture: Shae Beplate

Mr Nicholls said young thugs roaming the streets would soon learn that it was not worth the risk of being caught and their parents would also feel the consequences of their actions.

“The Townsville community is crying out for action and leadership on this issue and is sick to death of these young criminals running amok with impunity,” he said.

“That is why we will partner with the Commonwealth Government to ensure parents of a child in youth detention don’t receive welfare payments they would normally receive while that child is behind bars.”

In January, the State Labor Government knocked back calls for a youth curfew in Townsville back in January when a petition with 6000 supporters was lodged.

Then acting Attorney-General Dr Anthony Lynham said a curfew which applies to all young people could have the undesired effect of drawing more young people into the youth justice system.

“I share the petitioners’ concerns for the safety of all concerned when children and young people are out late at night unsupervised,” Dr Lynham said.

“Youth curfews have been common in the United States since the early 1990s.

“A recent systematic review of research on the effectiveness of those curfews did not show they were effective in reducing crime and victimisation.”

However, Mr Nicholls said curfew policies had proven successful overseas.

Having been grounded for the first three days of the campaign, Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls heads north today. Picture: Glenn Hunt/AAP

“In Iceland, a curfew has been in place for many years and today that country has some of the world’s cleanest-living teens,” he said.

“The curfew combined with organised sporting activities and spending time with their parents saw a huge decline in the percentage of 15- and 16 year-olds who had been drunk, using drugs and smoking.

“It is why we have committed to funding more activities at the PCYC to keep youths entertained on top of the curfew.

Closer to home Northbridge, an inner city suburb in Perth has had a successful curfew in place for 14 years.

Mr Nicholls believes the trial in Townsville could create a prototype for other Queensland cities to adopt in the future as the LNP looks to tackle youth crime state wide.

“WA Labor Premier Geoff Gallop actually put in place a curfew in the Northbridge precinct in 2003 and it has been enforced ever since,” he said.

“The Northbridge example saw a dramatic drop in crime and a reduction in the anti-social behaviour of young people.

“It is something we believe we can replicate in Townsville and if successful, roll out to other cities across the state dealing with youth crime epidemics.”

Mr Nicholls said the curfew strategy was not just about stopping crime or preventing kids being victims of crime but also about helping children have the best chance in life.

Mr Nicholls will host a crime forum at the Ryan Community Centre, 46 Morindo Drive, Kirwan, tonight from 6pm with a 5.40 arrival.

Originally published as Queensland election 2017: LNP plans curfew for Townsville youths