Police Minister announces 150 police officers to join Cairns force

With upgrades under way at Cairns Police Station, the force has announced an increase in the region’s officers over the next few years. Find out just how many officers are heading to FNQ.

FRUSTRATED Cairns residents are being urged not to take matters into their own hands as Queensland’s police commissioner arrived in town to announce an increase of cops on the ground for the Far North region.

Police Minister Mark Ryan joined police commissioner Katarina Carroll in Cairns on Wednesday to announce the Cairns region is set to become home to at least another 150 police officers over the next few years.

When asked about the current state of property crime in Cairns, Ms Carroll acknowledged that it is tough going but said there is “no silver bullet”.

“We watch the Facebook sites so we get real insights into what’s happening and what people are saying,” she said.

“We are a relatively safe city, we’re a safe state and a safe country but I understand why people are voicing their frustrations and I ask that they work with their local neighbourhood watches and work with us.”

Police Upgrades

“Do not take matters into your own hands, that’s the worst thing you can do … we’ve seen absolute tragedies come out of that.”

Mr Ryan said it’s the government’s expectation that there’s a penalty and punishment for criminals so “they know they’ve had a personal impact on someone’s life”.

“People impacted by crime, it’s very personal to them and it doesn’t matter what the statistics say, when you’re impacted personally it’s a big deal,” he said.

“For any person who is impacted by crime, I’m really sorry for what’s happened to them, I really am.”

“It’s a well accepted position that people don’t want crime to happen and there’s a dual disappointment when it’s a young offender because the crime has happened and they’ve thrown away their future,” he said.

Police Minister Mark Ryan has urged Cairns residents not to take matters of crime into their own hands. Stadium. Picture: Evan Morgan

Mr Ryan said strategies were in place and continued to be put in place to prevent youth crime beginning with working with families to identify dysfunction in lives and intervene but also having consequences for the actions of individuals.

“About 12 months ago we changed the law to toughen bail for serious recidivist offenders and now we have the toughest bail laws in the nation,” he said.

“The laws are having an impact because it’s having those serious offenders in custody longer and more often but that’s not the end of the story.”

“You have to have appropriate transitions from custody back into the community and the Queensland Police Service is leading the Youth Crime Task Force to boost efforts around that transition and make sure when young people are leaving custody they’re not going back to the same environment facilitating and encouraging criminal offending.”

“Police are heavily invested but we know it will take time,” he said.

“We are seeing some encouraging statistics around the level of offending from some of those repeat offenders but so long as there is even one crime being committed, the government will never give up and will continue to support police and other agencies to do what we can to reduce crime.”

Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll has visited the Cairns City Police Station. currently undergoing a $17m renovation. Once complete, an extra 150 police officers will be based at the new building. Site Manager Matt Dwyer of Hutchinsons Builders talks with Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll in the Cairns City Police Station, currently under construction. Picture: Brendan Radke

Discussing the need for Cairns police station’s $17m upgrade, Mr Ryan said the region can expect another 12 officers by June 30 this year with six allocated directly to the Cairns City beat.

“Over the next 12 to 24 months we’ll see a significant investment in policing right across the state but particularly here in the Far North,” he said.

“It’s a great investment in our officers and the community and we’re very pleased to see that commitment rolling out.”

Originally published as Police Minister announces 150 police officers to join Cairns force