State flying squad targets Cairns youth offenders in landmark operation
Young offenders who have been terrorising the Cairns community are now off the streets, following a landmark policing operation aimed at targeting the worst juvenile and adult offenders.
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Young offenders who have been terrorising the Cairns community are off the streets, following a landmark policing operation aimed at targeting the worst juvenile and adult offenders.
Police Minister Dan Purdie said the results were a significant milestone, highlighting the arrest of 288 people across Queensland, with 58 of these arrests occurring in Cairns.
The State Flying Squad, a specialist unit deployed to Cairns and the Gold Coast, played a pivotal role in the operation, targeting the state’s most dangerous juvenile and adult offenders.
This sweeping crime crackdown marks a significant victory in the fight against serious crime, according to the state government.
“Imagine the operational results QPS can achieve when they are at full strength,” Mr Purdie said.
Between February 28 and March 5, the 58 youth offenders arrested in Cairns faced 197 charges, and included five serious repeat offenders.
“Queensland Police officers are the best in the business, but asking them to fight crime without the proper backup is a disservice to them and to the community,” Mr Purdie said.
An additional $32.4m in funding is expected over the next five years to nearly triple the size of the specialist team.
“To almost triple this specialist team to have nearly 60 full-time positions capable of continuing this type of work when and where we need it,” Mr Purdie said.
The squad will be the largest rapid response unit in Queensland Police history and is part of the Crisafulli Government’s commitment to making Queensland safer by targeting the state’s worst juvenile and adult offenders.
Premier David Crisafulli said the specialist police units had taken a number of serious repeat offenders off the streets, including five serious repeat youth offenders, on more than 690 offences.
“We heard loud and clear from police about needing extra support, and our government is giving them the resources they need,” he said.
Meanwhile, the state government is moving to quell anger within the wider QPS after it last week offered frontline public servants a 3 per cent wage increase this year and a 2.5 per cent increase each year in 2027 and 2028.
Queensland Police Union president Shane Prior said it had created “very deep anger and resentment” within the 13,300-strong service.
Mr Purdie on Sunday insisted the state’s offer was “just a blanket, initial state wage plan”.
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