Owners of Vigilant Security and Investigations Tim and Kristy Lindley back LNP’s youth crime policy

A Townsville security team is calling for tougher consequences for repeat youth offenders causing havoc at local shopping centres. Read about the shocking crime they see on a daily basis.

Tim Lindley and Kristy Lindley from Vigilant Security and Investigations. Picture: Shae Beplate.

Sharing their story of seeing the same faces and unruly behaviour on a daily basis, a Townsville husband and wife team running their own security business say more needs to be done to ensure youth offenders face repercussions for their actions.

Tim and Kristy Lindley, who own and operate Vigilant Security and Investigations, say they are wanting to see “real change” in regards to repeat youth offenders behaving badly at local shopping centres.

“Our guards are dealing with the same faces continuously and this operates anywhere from being a surrogate parent trying to keep them off the street as they are weaving in and out of traffic, through to getting them to make better choices as opposed to the thefts and the damage that they are creating to shop keepers,” Mr Lindley said.

Kristy Lindley and Tim Lindley from Vigilant Security and Investigations, Tim Nicholls, Shadow Minister for Justice and Adam Baillie, LNP candidate for Townsville. Picture: Shae Beplate.

Backing the LNP’s plan for harsher penalties for repeat youth offenders, Mr Lindley said he has heard of many experience from people in the community, who are afraid and scared when in public.

“We had a mature lady, she was semi-retired and was having a panic attack as she came to do her shopping,” he said.

“There were a group of youths around the area and she wanted to use an ATM, couldn’t get there because those youths were the same faces that were in her house a few months earlier and stole her keys, stole her car. She was barricaded in her bedroom, scared.”

“A few weeks later she gets a replacement care and is carjacked again. This is the life of people coming out and trying to do their groceries.”

He said with many of the security guards knowing the youth offenders by name, their goal was to try and engage with the kids and help them make better choices.

“A lot of the other programs we hear about are either one hit wonder or they have been tried and they don’t work,” he said.

“These (programs) hold people accountable.”

LNP candidate for Townsville Adam Baillie said there is a revolving door in the youth justice system, with Mr and Mrs Lindley and their staff seeing the impact it is having on the community and retailers.

Tim Nicholls, Shadow Minister for Justice. Picture: Shae Beplate.

After the announcement of a new district judge for Townsville last week as part of the LNP’s Faster Justice plan, Shadow Minister for Justice Tim Nicholls said the extra judge would allow for the fast-tracking of cases, noting “justice delayed is justice denied”.

“Victims are sick and tired of waiting for their matter to get on, for their cases to be heard and to be told about what the outcome is in these matters,” he said.

Aligning with the LNP’s Adult Crime Adult Time policy, Mr Nicholls said the community, especially in Townsville, expects consequences for actions.

“We have indicated in those offences where there is murder, there is manslaughter, grievous bodily harm, particularly relevant here in Townsville, stealing cars, driving at police,” he said.

“We have seen some terrible incidents like that occurring … there should be adult consequences for those particular crimes.”

In response to the LNP’s announcement of a new district judge, Labor member for Thuringowa Aaron Harper said it was a “late thought bubble” from the party.

“They leave it until the 11th hour and 55th minute …” he said.

“Not one bill, no policies in this term by the Crisafulli lead opposition.”

“We’ve been backing the courts by putting more magistrates and judges on and clearly the fast-track sentencing that we trialled here in Townsville is working.”

Originally published as Owners of Vigilant Security and Investigations Tim and Kristy Lindley back LNP’s youth crime policy