FNQ Christmas police blitz numbers revealed: How many extra shifts will combat crime in Cairns
Police have revealed how many extra shifts will be put on across the Far North to combat an expected surge in youth crime over the school holiday period.
Cairns
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THE Far North will receive 3000 extra policing hours, the result of nearly 400 overtime shifts, as part of a police blitz on youth crime over the school holiday period.
Far Northern Region Acting Chief Superintendent Rhys Newton said police numbers in the Cairns region would be boosted by nearly 400 extra overtime shifts as a result of Operation Uniform Theta, announced in Cairns on Monday.
“We will have an additional 3000 hours which will come down to 375 extra eight hour shifts,” Acting Chief Superintendent Newton said.
“The majority will be allocated to hotspot policing such as in shopping centres.
“The second largest allocation will be used by Youth Justice co-responders and the rest will be allocated towards bail compliance checks.”
A Queensland Police spokesman confirmed inquiries were conducted with each police district, involved in the Operation Uniform Theta response.
This, was done, “to nominate the number of hours/shifts required to support local District Action Plans,” he said.
“The request by Far North District was met, with half the total number of shifts allocated as part of Operation Uniform Theta, distributed to Far North District, Townsville District and Mount Isa District combined.”
Operation Uniform Theta was launched on Monday by Police Minister Mark Ryan and Acting Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Mark Wheeler, who visited Cairns.
ADC Wheeler said Operation Uniform Theta would primarily focus on extra high-visibility officer patrols in intelligence driven locations, including public spaces and residential areas.
Statewide, 2200 extra shifts have been rostered on as part of the operation.
Minister Ryan said the operation would have a specific focus in the state’s north, including dedicated policed resources and patrolling in Cairns from now until the end of January, 2023.
The announcement came after a weekend where on social media residents complained of multiple alleged youth-related crimes including stolen cars, burglary, robbery, assault and theft.
In February this year Minister Ryan announced the Cairns region would be home to at least another 150 police officers over the next few years.
FNQ Assistant Commissioner Brett Schafferius, said the a holistic approach was the answer to youth crime.
“It falls to all parts of the community,” he said.
“We really encourage crime prevention activities.”
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