‘Anarchy on the streets’: Cops hunted as brazen crims show no fear in ‘state of lawlessness’

Hardcore criminals are not just fearless of the police, they are fearless of everyone, Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll admits, amid claims offenders are now turning the tables on people trying to bring them to justice.

• Analysis: Police powerless in state of lawlessness

Former Queensland cops say crims have lost all fear of the law and police have become a hunted species on the front lines of the war against crime.

And Queensland’s Police commissioner has conceded that it’s not just police they don’t fear – saying they were fearless of everyone.

“That is the concern,” Katarina Carroll said on Monday. “People say this cohort don’t respect (police), but this cohort don’t respect anyone. It’s not just the police, it’s how they treat the public, it’s how they treat each other.

“We know on the digital platforms this is a bit of a competition (amongst crims) so there is that whole psyche as to why they’re offending.

“We’re working with the digital companies to take things down.”

She also said it was up to the courts, the laws and all parts of society to address the problem.

“It is incredibly complex … you just can’t arrest your way out of this,” she said.

“One of the frustrations is that we are constantly putting these people before the courts.”

Criminologist Dr Terry Goldsworthy. Picture: Nigel Hallett

A lack of severe consequences as well as “confusing” messaging from the government on crime issues after it relaxed its stance on ice, heroin and cocaine usage to a controversial three-strike policy are being blamed for the alarming trend.

With youth crime, car thefts, domestic violence and bail breaches spiralling out of control, former cop-turned criminologist Terry Goldsworthy said Queensland had descended into “a state of lawlessness” where career criminals no longer run from police – they run at them.

His comments have been backed by three former longtime cops including ex Gold Coast superintendent Jim Keogh, who said lifestyle criminals had no fear of police and relished their run-ins with the law.

Writing for The Courier-Mail, Doctor Goldsworthy, an associate professor at Bond University on the Gold Coast, said it was alarming how defiant crims had become in the face of the law amid a spate of shocking incidents – including an alleged carjacking that police say police say led to an horrific triple fatality on the Bruce Highway.

“How did it get to this? When I was a police officer and we chased stolen cars, the offenders would flee when we caught up to them,” said Dr Goldsworthy, who spent 28 years with the Queensland Police Service.

“Now they turn on the police and attack them and the police need to be rescued as happened in Townsville a couple of weeks ago.

“This is the state of crime we now find ourselves facing in Queensland.”

A crash at Federal on the Bruce Highway on Friday claimed the life of three people. Source: Channel 7.

He said examples of police vehicles being rammed and chased back to the Mundingburra police station in Townsville, and alleged offenders in stolen vehicles driving past the police station taunting police just hours after three women were killed after being hit by a stolen car at Maryborough, illustrated just how alarming the situation had become.

“We live in a state of lawlessness – people are right to be concerned and angry about the failure to deal with increasing crime,” he said.

“We owe our police better; they need better support, crucially they need better leadership, otherwise fighting crime Queensland will continue down the path of lawlessness that we are now witnessing.”

Dr Goldsworthy said there were little to no consequences for some criminals being dealt with in the justice system.

He said the messaging on crime was confusing in light of recent changes to drug laws, with users given three chances for carrying up to a gram of heroin, cocaine or ice – which means Queensland now has among the most relaxed drug laws in Australia.

“The priorities of the government in relation to crime issues could be described as confusing at best,” he said.

Police Minister Mark Ryan hit back at claims that Queensland’s drug laws were now too relaxed. Picture: Steve Pohlner

“Recently the police minister, Mark Ryan, announced that police would be doing roadside testing for cocaine citing the number of serious crashes involving drivers who tested positive for cocaine has increased in the last five years.

“Yet the same government has green-lighted drug use in Queensland by decriminalising ice, heroin and cocaine. You now get three free goes at these drugs before you a face a criminal charge.”

But Ms Carroll disputed claims about drugs being decriminalised.

“The evidence clearly shows you that if someone has a minor amount of something you should give them the opportunity to get education … the evidence shows that that is actually very successful.”

“But if you don’t do that and you don’t change, it’s still a criminal offence.”

Dr Goldsworthy said national figures showed Queensland accounted for 27 per cent of car thefts for the nation, more than Victoria and NSW and he slammed a lack of accountability for the crime crisis.

“The Premier has effectively given up on fighting crime stating that ‘no one is going to stop youth crime’,” he said.

“But it would not be unreasonable for the public to expect the government and commissioner to at least control it?

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said legislation around the seizure of dangerous weapons was evidence her government was acting to curb violent crime. File picture: Glenn Hampson

“Where has the commissioner been held accountable for the poor performance on fighting crime?”

Annastacia Palaszczuk has stood by her government’s youth justice reforms to tackle criminal behaviour, describing criminals’ brazen contempt of the law as an “emotional issue”.

“The police are out there doing their best and I think it’s a good reminder for criminals out there that if you get caught, you will do the time,” she told reporters on the Gold Coast on Monday morning.

The Premier referenced legislation approving the expansion of knife detection operations to seize dangerous weapons, known as Jack’s Law, as evidence the government was acting.

“Of course that is concerning when you’re seeing more young people carrying dangerous weapons, including knives, across our suburbs and into precincts,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“That’s very concerning and that is why we acted very quickly in introducing Jack’s Law which actually expands those wanding powers to detect those dangerous knives and everything on people across public transport and into safe night out precincts.”

Pressed on the issue of relaxed drug laws, Ms Palaszczuk said they were passed “on the advice from police”.

“They came from the police and they were backed in by former police commissioners as well,” she said.

Mr Keogh, who served as the Gold Coast’s top cop for more than a decade during a distinguished career, said lack of severe consequences was driving a culture of fearlessness among criminals.

Jim Keogh said a lack of consequences saw crime become a lifestyle choice for some. Picture: Jamie Hanson

“They wear it (run-ins with the law) as a badge of honour,” he said.

“Their culture is one of high-level crime, with no real consequences and it’s become a lifestyle for them.

“Add that to drug use, their platform of social media and the notoriety that comes with it and you have a perfect storm.”

Mr Keogh is an advocate for repurposing the controversial Wellcamp quarantine hub for youth crime detention to “reprogram” youth offenders before it was too late.

“Once this becomes ingrained behaviour, they carry that through into adulthood and they won’t stop,” he said.

“You think these kids turn 18 and suddenly become born-again law-abiding citizens?

“It just doesn’t happen.”

Police Minister Mark Ryan hit back at claims that Queensland’s drug laws were now too relaxed.

“The Palaszczuk Government will always listen to the experts when it comes to community safety … For example, the Police Drug Diversion Program was requested and recommended by the Queensland Police Service and is supported by every Queensland Police Commissioner since the Fitzgerald era along with other key stakeholders like the AMA Queensland,” he said.

“In addition, Queensland has among the strongest laws in the nation when it comes to community safety and this is especially so in respect of child sex offenders, youth criminals, hooning, knife crime, and organised crime gang groups.”

He also said it was up to the courts to enforce the law.

“The frustration extends to many people in the community, not just the police service and that’s why the government has strengthened laws and increased criminal sanctions.

“The courts have all the tools in their toolbox.

“They just have to use them.

“The laws are the toughest in the nation and the courts should be using them.”

Member for Ninderry Dan Purdie MP said young offenders ruled the streets. Picture: Liam Kidston

A Queensland Police Service spokesman said despite increasing service demand, its officers were doing an “exceptional job in arresting offenders and bringing them before the courts”.

“There are many challenges, not only being faced by the QPS but other State and Territory jurisdictions and internationally,” he said.

He said recruiting suitably qualified police officers, in a difficult labour market was presenting new challenges, but a range of strategies including international recruitment and financial incentives for recruits were being used.

“Youth crime continues to be a complex and multifaceted issue that often spans across generations, with many challenging issues. Youth crime issues are not unique to Queensland and continues to be a major focus for policing jurisdictions across Australia.”

Former police officer and LNP Member for Ninderry Dan Purdie has raised serious concerns in parliament over watered down drug laws.

“The government recently raised the white flag on our war on drugs. Now people can be caught up to three times with ice, fentanyl, heroine, serious drugs like that,” he said.

“I and other police have seen first-hand how dangerous these drugs are.”

Youth offenders continue to be a source of frustration for police, who he said were “trying to do their job with one hand tied behind their back with less laws”.

“We are now in a situation where we have young offenders in stolen cars chasing and ramming the police,” he said.

“They have the belief they rule the streets and unfortunately they do. There’s been a number of incidents where police are running from young offenders in stolen cars.”

Former Snr Sgt Phil Notaro described it as “anarchy on the streets”. Picture: Adam Head

Retired Senior Sergeant Phil Notaro, who was a cop for more than 30 years and was the Queensland Police Union’s South Eastern region representative, said he believed Queensland’s policy for incarceration as a last resort for youth criminals was a problem.

“That’s where the erosion started in that a kid has really got to commit multiple offences before they get to see the inside of a youth detention centre,” he said.

Another policy Mr Notaro said had a huge impact was when laws were brought in so police couldn’t pursue stolen vehicles.

“We all said this is going to lead to further erosion of our power,” he said.

“These kids know once they are in a stolen car they are going to be untouchable.”

Mr Notaro said the policy was brought in because a number of people died during pursuits, but what should have happened was more training.

“We’ve got anarchy on the streets. We’ve got to get that back as well. These kids are not afraid of the police,” he said.

“The only people that stop for the police are the honest people.

“The policy has got to change, the police have got to have control of the streets.”

Originally published as ‘Anarchy on the streets’: Cops hunted as brazen crims show no fear in ‘state of lawlessness’