Toowoomba crime forum: Police Minister Mark Ryan deflects when asked about follow up event

At the close of a fiery town hall meeting, authorities said they would return in six months to update the community on the progress tackling youth crime. But it seems that may have changed.

At the close of the fiery Toowoomba Crime Forum in February, Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said she would be back in six months to give the community an update on the actions taken to address youth crime.

While there have been a lot of programs rolled out and several ministerial visits to the Garden City since that heated event, it appears from comments made by Police Minister Mark Ryan that it is unlikely we will see another forum soon.

Brendan Long attempts to ask a question at the Toowoomba Community Safety Forum. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Mr Ryan was twice asked about a follow-up event at a press conference in Toowoomba on Tuesday but deflected the questions.

“I am happy to continue to engage with the community in a variety of ways, it is not just about the Commissioner and me, but also the other ministers,” he said.

“The Premier has been back to engage with the community, the new Youth Justice Minister has been here.

“I am always happy to have those conversations and it is always important to report back to the community about what is happening, what the Initiatives are and what we are seeing in criminal offending, whether the trend is changing.

“There are many options about how to engage and we will see what works best and how we can get the best genuine engagement with the community.”

February’s crime forum was held in the Empire Theatres’ Armitage Centre in front of an estimated 300 angry Toowoomba residents.

They directed their rage at Mr Ryan and former Youth Justice Minister Leanne Linard for more than three hours, covering everything from victim trauma, to the privacy protections given to youth offenders and the apparent ease at which they are released on bail.

Residents demanded clarification on what force they could use to defend their home and wanted to know why the government had not taken action earlier.

By The Chronicle’s count, the Police Commissioner has been back to the Garden City twice since that forum to announce new programs and meet with her officers, while Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk was in town about a week after the forum.