‘Upsetting’: Goondiwindi Mayor publicly condemns juvenile offenders

With youth crime plaguing regional Queensland, a Darling Downs mayor has expressed his disappointment with the justice system following a series of tragic events.

THE Goondiwindi region has not been immune to the spate of thefts and break-ins occurring around Toowoomba, and now Council has called on the State Government to review the current laws for juvenile offenders.

Goondiwindi Regional Council Mayor Lawrence Springborg said their local police force was a credit to the region, but the persistence of a select few offenders had cast a shadow on the community.

“We require a clear deterrence that stops the escalation from vandalism and petty crime to serious property and car thefts, or the dangerous operation of a motor vehicle,” he said.

“Unfortunately, a few weeks ago Goondiwindi town was subject to a series of break-ins, thefts and anti-social behaviour.

“We have been spoilt in some ways by having a long history of not having to lock up at night, with a friendly and welcoming community.

Goondiwindi Regional Council Mayor Lawrence Springborg has condemned youth crime in the region.

“It has been upsetting to our community that this very small number of juvenile offenders have continued to make individual victims, as well as ratepayers, bear the cost of their actions.”

Cr Springborg sent a request to the Police and Corrective Services Minister in January for confirmation that local police would have the resources they need, despite their duties on the Queensland border.

He said that Goondiwindi was fortunate to be a very safe town in general but any spikes in criminality were really felt by local residents.

“The police work hard to find and apprehend any local criminals, and are extremely successful in doing so in the vast majority of cases,” he said.

“For the vast majority, the system works – and we need to support that pathway for those individuals.

“However, for a hardened few, the current system is not deterring them from further offences.

“Our police, court and justice systems are ultimately State responsibility and it appears that current penalties are not a sufficient deterrent.”