‘Super charged’: Shock data shows youth crime spike across Qld

Youth offenders are committing more violent crimes, getting younger and growing in numbers, shock new Queensland data has revealed.

Young offenders are committing more violent crimes, getting younger and growing in numbers, new data has revealed, showing how the state stacks up with the rest of the country. 

The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Recorded Crime data shows the number of young criminals in Queensland has increased 6 per cent to 10,878 offenders in the last year.

Rates of youth crime – accounting for population growth – also showed the offender rate increased from 1863 offenders per 100,000 people to 1925 in the same time.

Logan Crime Reduction Unit target youth offenders in property crime blitz. Picture: Queensland Police

The data also shows violent offences – or acts intended to cause injury – accounted for 23 per cent of juvenile crimes and was the most common offence last financial year.

The offender rate for acts intended to cause injury also increased from 402 offenders in 2021–22 to 446 offenders per 100,000 people aged between 10 and 17 years in 2022–23.

Bond University Criminologist Professor Terry Goldsworthy said the data squashed the government’s line that the number of young offenders was decreasing.

“I guess this is just telling us what we already know, it just shows youth crime is going up,” Professor Goldsworthy said.

Youth offenders in Queensland were proceeded against by police on average 2.4 times.

Almost 4000 had been dealt with by police two or more times, including 3108 juveniles aged between 14 and 17, 773 between 12 and 13 years old, and 35 aged between 10 and 11 years old.

Criminologist Dr Terry Goldsworthy speaking about youth criminal gangs. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

Just over 6800 juveniles in Queensland had only one interaction with police.

Of the offenders, more than 20 per cent were aged 13 and under, with the number of offenders in that age bracket increasing by more than 200 in a year.

Professor Goldsworthy said this was of particular concern, and the community was at risk of seeing a “super charged youth crime” cohort.

“I think we need to be really careful about what we are doing there. It would be a mistake to raise the age, we would end up with a super charged cohort,” he said.

“It would be ridiculous, we’re going to have to stop them turning into hardcore criminals.”

Youth offender numbers has increased 2 per cent in New South Wales, 16 per cent in Victoria, 11 per cent in South Australia, 4 per cent in Western Australia, 14 per cent in Tasmania, 9 per cent in the Northern Territory and 49 per cent in Australian Capital Territory.

Police Minister Mark Ryan said he had been open in acknowledging there had been an increase in “some crime types”.

“While the data continues to show that it is a relatively small cohort committing a disproportionate number of offences, it is important to acknowledge for every crime there is a victim and the impact is often long-lasting,” Mr Ryan said.

“That’s why the government will never relent in targeting those who wish to do harm to the community by strengthening laws and providing the police and partner agencies with additional resources. In addition, the government has also increased supports for victims of crime and for intervention and prevention services.

“While the reported data is from 2023, the QPS has stated publicly that more recent data indicates a reduction in some crime types in Queensland.”

Police dogs were used in a property crime blitz targeting youths. Picture: Queensland Police

Originally published as ‘Super charged’: Shock data shows youth crime spike across Qld