Cairns CBD business owner calls for dog patrol to deter youth criminals

A Cairns CBD business owner is calling for “drastic moves” to combat what he says is a rising tide of youth crime in the city. Watch the shocking video.

A CBD business owner has called on Cairns council to introduce constant dog patrols in the city to make petty criminals “uncomfortable”.

Adam Adams, who owns Night Owl along with a string of other ventures, said the situation was out of control, and worse than it had ever been.

“A constant dog patrol, up and down the Esplanade and along Shields Street and other main streets, I think that’d be worth it, because I think that would have a presence and create an uncomfortable situation (for troublemakers),” Mr Adams said

CCTV footage from Night Owl stores on the Esplanade and Shields Street show children throwing objects at store employees and shoplifting in groups.

Kids run in to shoplift while a staff member stacks shelves. Picture: Supplied

“There’s an absolute contempt for the law, there are no repercussions,” Mr Adams said.

“There needs to be some drastic moves, it’s just getting worse and worse.”

Night Owl owner Adam Adams said youth crime in Cairns was as bad as he'd ever seen. Picture: Supplied

In 2022 the Northern Territory government provided $1m to help pay a private security company to provide dog patrols in some suburbs of Darwin.

Other businesses in the NT’s capital have also reportedly engaged dog teams from private companies, at their own expense.

Cairns Regional Council said while law enforcement remained primarily the responsibility of the police and state government, council was committed to doing what it could to help.

One person reaches out to touch a Night Owl staff member, who then retaliates. Picture: Supplied

“As part of our Community Safety Plan CBD, $3m will be invested this financial year to improve safety, which includes extensive CCTV equipment and monitoring, security patrols and CBD support staff, to assist police,” Cairns Regional Council Director of Lifestyle and Community Destry Puia said.

“In October 2023, Council approved 11,680 hours of additional City Safe patrols per year, representing a 50 per cent increase in resourcing.

“Council also manages and operates a 24-hour CCTV monitoring service and shares relevant footage with police – this occurs proactively or in response to police requests.”

The council did not state whether it would or wouldn’t implement dog patrol.

“The Community Safety Plan CBD also outlines other proactive measures used by council to manage behaviours, such as building suitable streetscapes, parks and recreational areas,” Mr Puia said.

“Council is continually looking into preventative measures, in line with its existing contracts and best practice, to improve safety.”

A Queensland Police spokesperson said the force was “committed” to finding solutions to public safety.

“The QPS uses a borderless policing model to provide more agility, adaptability and flexibility in our response and use of resources,” the QPS spokesperson said.

“This means Cairns Police are supported by Far North District resources to quickly respond to incidents and in fitting numbers, including using the Mobile Police Beat to deter offending.

“We remain committed to working with businesses and other agencies to help find solutions to keep these people safe and make the CBD a safe place to visit.”

Originally published as Cairns CBD business owner calls for dog patrol to deter youth criminals