Protesters call for ‘zero tolerance’ on youth crime

Victims of crime have demanded answers to why youth offending continues to skyrocket in one state. Here’s how the police will respond.

Queensland Police will be given more power to target serious repeat youth offenders after victims of crime marched on Queensland parliament grounds demanding solutions.

A new rapid response police taskforce has been established to target serious repeat juvenile offenders and provide immediate support across Queensland.

The new taskforce was announced hours after hundreds of protesters marched in the Voice for Victims rally towards Parliament House on Wednesday.

Snaking through the streets of Brisbane from the Botanic Gardens to parliament, the hundreds of protesters carried signs demanding more action from the government on youth crime.

Ben Cannon leads protesters in a march on Parliament House calling for tougher action on youth crime. Picture: Dan Peled / NCA NewsWire

“This rally is to allow the community to come together peacefully and show our government leaders we will not tolerate anymore the crime pandemic,” a Voice for Victims spokesman said.

“Together we hope to make enough noise to swing the pendulum back in favour of the victims and bring order to the wider community.”

Those attending called for the government to have “zero tolerance on youth crime’’ as the state continues to battle a spike in young offenders.

Protesters are calling on the Queensland government for change. Picture: Dan Peled / NCA NewsWire

Hundreds walked through the streets of Brisbane towards parliament on Wednesday. Picture: Dan Peled / NCA NewsWire

Organisers were expected to meet with Police Minister Mark Ryan after the rally to discuss tougher penalties and more action on youth crime.

“At 12pm today, Annastacia (Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk) has sent her police minister once again to answer questions on the safety of our community,” Voice for Victims organiser Ben Cannon said, according to The Courier-Mail.

“We are going to put some clear recommendations that are well thought out and considered.”

Protesters march on Parliament House in Brisbane calling for tougher action on youth crime. Picture: Dan Peled / NCA NewsWire

The rally organisers will meet with government ministers to try to find a solution to youth crime. Picture: Dan Peled / NCA NewsWire

The Queensland government announced on Wednesday that the new taskforce would be deployed to youth crime hotspots, including Townsville, Cairns, Logan, Bowen, Dalby, Ipswich, Emerald, Laidley and Wide Bay.

Taskforce Guardian will aid police and expert Youth Justice workers disrupt youth crime offending.

“Our rapid response teams are highly mobile and go into areas where their expert support is needed most,” QPS Commissioner Katarina Carroll said.

“The youth flying squad called Taskforce Guardian is all about supporting local police with detectives and Youth Justice workers to target the high-end offenders in hotspot locations.

“We are already seeing encouraging results and we look forward to rolling out various operations at locations across the state over the coming weeks.”

Commissioner Katarina Carroll says the new taskforce will help local police tackle youth crime. Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Gass

Many marchers who attended the rally have been impacted by youth crime, including Lee Lovell, whose wife Emma was allegedly killed by two juvenile intruders during a home invasion on Boxing Day.

Mr Lovell told 7 News that he didn’t want to march on Wednesday but felt nothing else had worked to create change.

“It’s not just a loss of life, it’s affecting all walks of life,” he said.

Many protesters have been impacted personally by youth crime. Picture: Dan Peled / NCA NewsWire

Originally published as Protesters call for ‘zero tolerance’ on youth crime