Cairns juvenile crime: Youth justice taskforce reaches next phase as car theft spikes
A top cop has admitted Far North police have struggled with a wave of stolen cars in the past week, as a youth justice taskforce ramps up with good news for one crime-weary town.
Cairns
Don't miss out on the headlines from Cairns. Followed categories will be added to My News.
THE Far North’s top cop has admitted a spike in car thefts has stretched their ranks as it zeroes in on offenders and a youth justice taskforce kicks into a new phase meaning good news for one crime-weary town.
Acting Chief Superintendent Chris Hodgman said the number of stolen cars in March had skyrocketed.
“Last week we struggled, simple as that,” Act Chief Supt Hodgman said.
“Police officers have pressed close to 3000 charges this year. At this stage, close to 350 juveniles and 210 adults have been put into custody.
“There's been a number of young people that we’ve targeted in the last week. This morning we had six juveniles in the watch house.”
While 121 vehicles were stolen in January, 120 stolen vehicles have been reported up until March 26th.
Queensland Police assistant commissioner Cheryl Scanlon said the focus of the taskforce in the next stage is to help shape those reoffenders.
“Cairns Police have been extremely busy lately but it’s not unique to Cairns and we do get spikes in crime and we need to deal with that,” Ms Scanlon said.
“This is a really practical approach to what needs to happen. These individual young people, we know who they are.
“We know where they are living and who they are living with and issues around their families.”
Ms Scanlon said education was a big focus.
“What needs to happen is things like if they are disengaged from school someone will work with finding out why they are not at school and try to reconnect that young person,” she said.
The focus is on different panels that will meet fortnightly and discuss the issues. They have also expanded their reach.
The panels are a group of agencies coming together to focus on the high risk offenders. This includes Youth Justice and Child Safety.
“Originally, we had not intended for Mareeba but we will have a panel up there because there are some issues we want to address,” she said.
Former Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Inspector Denis McKinley who has spearheaded a campaign to stop youth crime in Mareeba said, “All that’s stuff is good positive. It’s a progress to resolve. It minimises the juvenile crime that is going on around Mareeba.”
“Somewhere along the line they need to bring the parents and guardians in line with that.
“If they try to change these juveniles without support from parents or guardians it could all collapse again.”
Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs (CYJMA) executive director Michael Drane said custody was not the answer.
“This is less about a criminal justice response and more about the treatment of risk factors for these individual young people,” Mr Drane said.
More Coverage
Originally published as Cairns juvenile crime: Youth justice taskforce reaches next phase as car theft spikes
Cyclist suffers ‘significant injuries’ in solo crash south of Cairns
A Far North cyclist is recovering in hospital with “significant injuries” after crashing into a stationary vehicle.
Rising stars set to shine in AFLW’s Cairns curtain raiser
Future Cairns AFLW prospects will showcase their skills in front of some of the game’s top stars with a take-no-prisoners midfielder and silky-smooth ruck ready to renew hostilities at Cazalys stadium later this month.