New tactic being used by youth criminals emerges in Queensland

Young criminals are using a specific whistle to alert other groups, with up to 30 running to the scene in the middle of the night.

The Cairns Tactical Crime Squad performed an operation in the Cairns CBD. Picture: Marc McCormack | File

Young criminals are using a specific whistle to alert other groups when a fight breaks out, with up to 30 people running to the scene in the middle of the night, as new figures show one in five of the state’s worst youth offenders live in Far North Queensland.

In one incident on Saturday night the Cairns Post witnessed two men and a group of 25 teens were involved in a fight before police intervened.

The boy’s friends responded by whistling and within a few minutes up to 30 young teenagers came from different directions to join the fight before bystanders intervened.

The Cairns Post understands youths have different whistles that mean different things, including one that indicates they have spotted a police officer.

A recent incident involving a 12-year-old boy and a middle-aged man, led to teen onlookers putting out loud pitched whistles which led up to 40 teenagers ascending on the scene.

The proprieter of Laundry Express, who asked not to be named, said he had noticed groups of teens have “specific call-signs they use when a fight starts”.

“They have a special whistle and specials calls for other things,” he said.

It comes as data shows in 2023 there were 485 serious repeat youth offenders living in Queensland, with 89 residing in the Far North Queensland.

“Serious repeat offenders make up the majority of those in detention (76 per cent of youth detention centre bed nights in 2023 were occupied by serious repeat offenders)” a Youth Justice Department spokesman said.

A recent spike in Cairns car thefts has been blamed on recidivist offenders being released from Cleveland Youth Detention Centre. Picture: QPS

Data released exclusively to the Cairns Post shows that on an average day in 2023, there were 485 serious repeat youth offenders living in Queensland, with 89 residing in the Far North Queensland Region. Picture: Marc McCormack

In the last financial year Queensland youth offenders were caught committing 44 per cent more crimes than 10 years ago, with 2.7 offences per youth offender to 3.9 now.

Cairns youth advocate Perri Conti has been working with young people to stop the crimes from escalating.

“We need to step in early to make sure the next generation do not become serious criminals,” Ms Conti said.

Perri Conti just after 10pm on a Saturday night on the street, engaging with young people and buying them food.

Ms Conti said she recently called the police on a woman she believed was teaching young people to commit crimes, taking most of the proceeds in exchange for drugs she would give them.

Ms Conti said said she had bought a property on Hoare Street, Manunda which she plans to open up as a night-time hub.

The hub will feature lounges, video games, computers and streaming services as well as free meals.

Originally published as New tactic being used by youth criminals emerges in Queensland