Taskforce Guardian catches 22 juveniles in latest Darling Downs visit

A major youth crime taskforce has returned to the Darling Downs, this time charging juveniles with almost 80 offences. Watch the footage here.

Taskforce Guardian has completed its ninth deployment across the Darling Downs, charging 22 juveniles with 78 offences. Photo: Supplied

Queensland Police Service’s youth crime operation has charged more than 20 juveniles in a seven day period in the Toowoomba region.

The holistic taskforce collaborates with support services to engage at-risk youth with relevant programs that focus on health, education, disability services and First Nation services.

A Queensland police spokesman said in a press release that Taskforce Guardian partnered with Toowoomba police between September 9 to 16, and charged 22 juveniles with 78 offences, diverting 11 from the youth justice system.

It comes after the eighth deployment to the wider Darling Downs saw 37 young people arrested on 75 offences, while 32 were diverted from the youth justice system in June.

“Taskforce Guardian partnered with local police to conduct high-visibility police patrols, finalise open investigations, target active serious offending and engage at-risk or offending young people and their caregivers with support services and agencies,” the spokesman said in a statement.

“Most offences were related to property crime including stolen vehicles, assault, and break ins, along with bail compliance.”

The QPS spokesman said the taskforce engaged with a 16-year-old Toowoomba boy who allegedly stole a relative’s vehicle with several others on September 9, prior to being involved in a traffic crash.

“Two other teenage boys were dealt with under the provisions of the Youth Justice Act in relation to the incident,” the spokesman said.

Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Brent Parker said that Toowoomba welcomes the extra boots on the ground to support strategic policing activities.

“Our first priority is keeping the community safe, and Taskforce Guardian gives us support to co-ordinate resources where and when they are needed most,” Senior Sergeant Parker said in a press release.

“Whether that is high-visibility patrols on hotspot locations or locating alleged offenders to finalise investigations and seek justice for victims.

“We look forward to future deployments across the district, to help enhance community safety.”

Since Taskforce Guardian began operations in May 2023 more than 1800 young people have been dealt with more than 5500 offences, more than 800 diverted from the youth justice system across 95 deployments.