Qld’s most dangerous suburbs mapped, amid calls for new police powers

Queensland suburbs with some of the biggest shopping hubs have recorded the most assaults, new data shows, as a former cop has called for police to have the same powers in shopping centres as they do in late-night precincts. SEARCH YOUR SUBURB

A former cop has called for police to have the same powers in shopping centres as they do in late night precincts, as a data analysis reveals the suburbs with the most assaults and robberies.

Ex-Gold Coast police superintendent Jim Keogh said shopping centres were becoming “target zones” with the data showing the need for new strategies.

“The reality is crime is spiralling out of control and there is no silver bullet so you’ve got to try as many strategies to pull it back,” he said.

A Queensland Police crime map analysis by The Sunday Mail shows suburbs with some of the biggest shopping hubs recorded the most assaults, including Brisbane City, Fortitude Valley, Southport and Surfers Paradise.

There were 188 assaults recorded in Redbank Plains last year, the same suburb where grandmother Vyleen White was stabbed in the underground carpark of a local shopping centre in February.

While police say the data doesn’t showcase actual offence locations and populated areas where there are more dwellings could show up as “hotspots”, Mr Keogh said cops should “target harden” and give officers in shopping centres laws that would allow them to ban people from the precinct and also implement wanding like at entertainment precincts.

“It’s come to the stage now where we really have to have boots on the ground at the shopping centres on a permanent basis and perhaps similar laws to the entertainment precinct where the officers can ban a person from the complex,” he said.

“They can act now at a shopping centre at the direction of the centre management as the landlord.

“But the police officer should be able to just simply issue them with a banning notice on the spot that may range they’re banned from the shopping centre for up to a month.”

Grandmother Vyleen White was stabbed in the underground carpark of Town Square Redbank Plains Shopping Centre in February.

Mr Keogh said there should also be a central camera office that reviewed security cameras to allow the police to know where they needed to be. He said police should also work more with private security guards.

“We’ve got step outside the square in relation to the way we do business,” he said.

“The police can’t be everywhere all the time. We’re seeing enhanced private security, not simply it’s shopping centres and entertainment precincts but we’re seeing them well and truly entrenched in suburbia.

“So I think it’s a case of harnessing that and working collaboratively with the police. The police are struggling with their current laws, and they need all the help they can get.”

Acting Minister for Police and Community Safety, Meaghan Scanlon said the government would back police with tools and resources they needed to keep Queensland communities safe.

“With this in mind, the government is seeking to expand Jack’s Law to include shopping centres within its remit,” she said.

“The policy expansion is currently going through the proper government processes.”

Ex-Gold Coast police superintendent Jim Keogh. Photo Jamie Hanson

QPS has also launched a multi-level operation to reduce crime across communities called Operation Whiskey Legion.

As part of Operation Whiskey Unison, more than 11,300 people have been arrested during high visibility patrols and activities on more than 18,200 charges since March 2023.

Acting Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said the operation Operation Whiskey Legion would supercharge high visibility policing work in communities across the state.

“The Queensland Police Service is determined to drive down crime across Queensland and this operation will support local efforts in taking strong action against people causing harm in our communities,” Acting Commissioner Gollschewski said.

“We will continue tackling crime from all angles to ensure the community is safe and feels safe.

Operation Whiskey Unison comes as a review of the Queensland Youth Partnership Initiative showed nearly 1000 young people had been helped in shopping centres between 2020 and 2023.

“I’m delighted that the Youth Partnership Initiative evaluation acknowledges positive results, pointing to evidence of an increase in community safety with shopping centres and their security managers saying they are receiving less complaints and concerns about safety with decreases in serious incidents involving young people,” Minister for Youth Justice Di Farmer said.

Originally published as Qld’s most dangerous suburbs mapped, amid calls for new police powers