Cairns crime: New youth crime taskforce launched in Cairns
Just days after the Cairns Post revealed the shocking growth rate of crime in the region, a new youth crime taskforce has been launched.
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Days after it was revealed Cairns eclipsed every other Queensland region as the fastest-growing crime district in the state, a new youth crime taskforce has been launched.
The new taskforce will be headed by Acting Assistant Commissioner George Marchesini and will target serious repeat youth offenders.
The taskforce will conduct extra patrols of hotspot areas as well as bail compliance checks and will work with support agencies in a bid to break the reoffending cycle.
The new taskforce commander has a background in child protection and youth justice and said early intervention to prevent kids entering the system was key, alongside better management of a hardcore cohort of recidivist offenders.
“So one of our priorities, (which) will always be a priority, is community safety. The work that has been done around our serious repeat offenders will continue,” he said.
However, Assistant Commissioner Marchesini said there would be no quick fix to skyrocketing Cairns crime rates.
“The laws that have been provided are being utilized in terms of identifying those offenders that need to obviously remain in custody to ensure community safety,” he said.
“We’re also talking about agencies that deliver services before children are attending school, those early warning signs, what do we have in place? And by doing that we can try and get ahead of the game.”
Acting Assistant Commissioner Marchesini takes on the leadership role vacated by Assistant Commissioner Cheryl Scanlon.
Since December 19, 2022, 66 juveniles have been arrested on more than 200 charges within the Far North District as part of Operation Theta.
A stolen car record of 1299 cars in 2023 shows early signs of easing so far this year but 85 vehicles have been stolen since January 1 and as of Monday, 27 vehicles were recorded as being stolen in the first 13 days of February.
Police Minister Mark Ryan said the flagging of additional factors leading to crime such as domestic violence, drug use within the home and child abuse meant children considered to be a risk could be the subject of early intervention strategies.
“Those front end preventive responses have been improved, but it takes time for those impacts to change people’s lives,” he said.
“The causes of those complex challenges are very difficult, but just because it is difficult doesn’t mean you don’t do a response to try and interrupt or address it.”
In response to skyrocketing crime throughout the state, new laws cracking down on youth crime are expected to be discussed during the first sitting of parliament for the year beginning on February 21.
It’s understood a new bill could sidestep the usual parliamentary committee process and be made law before the end of February under a standing order special provision.
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Originally published as Cairns crime: New youth crime taskforce launched in Cairns
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