CCTV exposes kids terrorising streets in Cairns

Books are being set on fire in libraries and brawls are commonplace, as staggering data reveals more than 50 anti-social incidents are being reported daily in Cairns. Watch the exclusive CCTV footage.

Books are being set on fire in libraries and brawls are commonplace, as staggering data reveals more than 50 anti-social incidents are being reported daily in Cairns.

Cairns Regional Council data from its CitySafe program showed 14,447 incidents had been reported between January and September this year, equating to about 53 per day.

Council has spent $5m on crime including $3.4m for CCTV, city safe security, patrols and the lock up of assets, $800,000 on replacing and maintaining CCTV assets, $840,000 on city safe and public safety staff and $350,000 on security at libraries.

In the most extreme cases, youths have set rubbish on fire, and put that into book return chutes, setting alight reading material.

It’s prompted Mayor Amy Eden to demand the next state government target youth crime with “more than slogans”.

“This amount does not include costs for repairs when council assets and facilities are damaged and vandalised,” Cr Eden said.

Mayor Amy Eden has expressed her frustrations of the cost of crime to ratepayers in Cairns. Picture: Brendan Radke

“Imagine what we could do with some of that money if crime and anti-social behaviour wasn’t occurring at such high levels.”

She said of particular concern was anti-social behaviour at the council’s libraries.

“Almost every day we see anti-social behaviour, including fights and brawls, swearing, abuse of staff ... it’s costing ratepayersa fortune in terms of security now that we need guards at our libraries.

“It’s costing ratepayers a fortune in terms of security now that we need guards at our libraries.”

Cairns Regional Council has hired security staff to watch over the Smithfield Library after the terrorising of staff by school kids. Picture: Supplied

Ms Eden said beyond libraries there were a number of common hotspots security staff were attended to including Sugarworld, Walker Road Sporting Precinct and the tennis centre in Cairns North.

“Ratepayers are under enough pressure as it is without council having to fork out to fix vandalised properties and increase security.”

Ms Eden’s last plea to state government was in March 2023 when she wrote to then Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and opposition leader David Crisafulli imploring them to visit Cairns, suggesting the city risked becoming “the next Alice Springs”.

Anti-social behaviour caught on Cairns Regional Council CCTV. The local government reported over 14,000 incidents between January and September, 2024. Picture: CRC

“I’m calling on the next state government to walk the walk on tackling crime rather than just the talk of campaign promises,” she said.

“The people of Cairns have had enough. They deserve more than talk and slogans.

“The state government and its various agencies need to take the lead in creating effective policies that support and enhance existing efforts and provide resources to empower local initiatives.”

Last week during a visit to Cairns, Queensland Police Union president Shane Prior said a chronic understaffing of officers was the reason for surging offences.

In June 214 unlawful entry offences were logged, but the number jumped to 289 in July, 370 in August, however there was a reduction to 337 offences in September.

Originally published as CCTV exposes kids terrorising streets in Cairns