Burleigh Heads crime: Killer statistic that shows how area has changed

There’s an unsettling truth about Burleigh Heads, with residents revealing their fears of walking the streets after dark.

The changing face of Burleigh Heads has been highlighted in police statistics that show most offending is occurring late on Saturday nights and in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Theft, good order and drug offences are by far the biggest problems police are dealing with in the area, with most offending occurring on Friday and Saturday evenings.

The most common time offences are occurring is listed as midnight

The statistics, covering the 12 months to August 22, highlight the growing night time economy in the area centred around James St and Justins Park, where dining and drinking establishments have mushroomed in recent years.

Considerably less offences were recorded in next door Burleigh Waters, where the spread of crime was more evenly spread and Saturday was only the fourth busiest day of the week.

12 months to August 22, 2024. Source: QPS.

12 months to August 22, 2024. Source: QPS.

The revelation comes in the wake of a series of Bulletin reports highlighting how locals and traders felt the central Burleigh area was “under siege” from troublemakers.

Palm 18E Neighbourhood Watch team member Lance Edbrooke said business owners feared for the safety of their staff.

“The problem that we have is we no longer feel safe walking down into the restaurant areas,” he said.

“There’s some serious matters going on. I know of one business owner who keeps a shovel

behind the counter because he’s got young female staff and they (the troublemakers) have been that abusive.”

Mr Edbrooke said that on one occasion, light rail workers had intervened to help staff members who were being verbally abused.

LNP candidate for Burleigh Hermann Vorster.

Hermann Vorster, the LNP candidate for state seat Burleigh, said the state government had “allowed the emergence of a night-time economy in Burleigh Heads with no strategy to properly manage it”. He said traders were also worried about the potential impact on tourism.

“It’s not just impacting safety of their staff – now it’s impacting the likelihood of customers coming to visit and spend money at their shops,” he said.

“ … If we have tourists who are affected by anti-social behaviour, who are threatened, they are going to take that message back home. That’s going to undermine our efforts to market ourselves as a safe place where tourists can come and support local jobs.”

Acting Chief Superintendant Peter Miles. Picture: Annette Dew.

Acting Chief Superintendent Peter Miles told the Bulletin police had boosted numbers into the area on Friday and Saturday nights.

“The offending in the Burleigh area has actually reduced in 2024 from 2023,” he said.

“(It’s) only a slight decrease, and it doesn’t take away the perspective that people feel that they are under siege and that’s something that we have to take into account.

“That’s why we have boosted the numbers on the Friday and Saturday nights into those areas. We will continue to monitor that with the assistance with of crews from outside of the southern patrol group.”

Among recent incidents, an arson attempt was made on the Burleigh Pavilion and a Victorian tourist was injured in a Friday night assault on Goodwin Terrace.

“Incidents like this don’t fall lightly, we realise we’ve got to be around more often and that’s what we are doing,” Supt Miles said.

Neighbourhood Watch volunteer Lance Edbrooke.

GROUP’S FACEBOOK PAGE SUSPENDED

A community safety advocate says he is “astounded and astonished” after a Facebook page run by Neighbourhood Watch members was suspended.

Palm 18E Neighbourhood Watch team member Lance Edbrooke said the page, which had more than 1300 followers, was primarily used for communicating with Burleigh residents concerned by crime in the area.

“I got on the computer last night because I’m one of the admins, and found that Facebook has blocked us. I am astounded,” Mr Edbrooke said.

“We had just under 1400 members in there. We’re out there with the community. But they’ve stopped us.”

Work on the light rail extension to Burleigh. Picture: Glenn Campbell.

Mr Edbrooke said the setback came as the group were busier than ever due to multiple issues affecting the area.

“We have over eight developments going on along our beachfront, we have had an extreme amount of illegal campers here over the years, we have got escalating crime at Burleigh Heads. And of course we’ve got the light rail and the Oceanway (upgrade)going through all at once, making it a real jumble, a real mess,” he said.

Facebook parent Meta declined to comment on the suspension of the page, which somewhat confusingly was known as ‘Burleigh Beach Residences’.

The social media giant instead pointed the Bulletin to information online detailing how groups may be disabled for violations of “community standards” and outlining how decisions may be appealed.

Mr Edbrooke said he had no idea why the group had been suspended.

“It just doesn’t make sense,” he said.

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