Premier David Crisafulli visits Townsville to share latest stats on city’s youth crime

Premier David Crisafulli has doubled down on his pledge to crush youth crime in Townsville, unveiling fresh arrest figures from the State Flying Squad and vowing: “I’m not going to stop.” READ HIS PLANS.

Acting Police Superintendent Chris Lawson and Member for Thuringowa Natalie Marr with Premier David Crisafulli (centre) on the Strand. Picture: Evan Morgan

Revealing the figures from the latest “successful” operation by the State Flying Squad, Premier David Crisafulli vowing to Townsville that he “was not going to stop” until the youth crime crisis is ended.

Mr Crisafulli released the latest figures in Townsville on Thursday and said between March 12 and 19 the Flying Squad arrest 30 people on 85 charges, but what is “most interesting” is of those 30 people, 26 were juvenile offenders with 69 different charges.

“I want this city to know that I am not going to stop until we see the youth crime crisis that has been ten years in the making become a distant memory for this place,” he said.

Acting Police Superintendent Chris Lawson and Premier David Crisafulli on the Strand. Picture: Evan Morgan

Mr Crisafulli said Townsville has been “held hostage” by a small group of “repeat hardcore untouchables”.

“I can assure you that we continue to throw resources and new laws until the job is done,” he said.

“What you get from me is accountability changes to the law, better early intervention, and more police, and you are going to get more every single day,” he said.

“I can assure Queenslanders that they are going to see a lot more of that in the weeks, months and years ahead.”

With the Flying Squad now a permanent, dedicated unit with the ability to fly to areas in Queensland seeing a spike in crime, Acting Chief Superintendent Chris Lawson said the addition of the officers during times of need was “enormous”.

“Not only have we seen the officers here in the middle of March, but we also have a contingent back here at the moment, and we will be advocating for more officers to come to Townsville from the State Flying Squad on a regular basis,” he said.

Acting Police Superintendent Chris Lawson on the Strand. Picture: Evan Morgan

Mr Lawson said there had been a 20 per cent reduction in robbery offences for the financial year, a 15 per cent reduction in unlawful entry offences and a nearly 10 per cent reduction in unlawful use offences.

“Those results speak for themselves, we are out there making sure the people of Townsville can be confident in their police, that we are out there doing our job and getting it done.”

Originally published as Premier David Crisafulli visits Townsville to share latest stats on city’s youth crime