Future is unclear over two youth crime taskforces set up after Emma Lovell death

The fate of two youth crime taskforces set up in the wake of the horrific home invasion murder of mother-of-two Emma Lovell is unclear.

Emma Lovell, pictured with husband Lee Lovell, was killed in 2022.

The fate of two youth crime taskforces set up in the wake of the horrific home invasion murder of mother-of-two Emma Lovell is unclear.

Both Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski and Police Minister Dan Purdie are “in discussions” about how they will tackle youth crime going forward.

The Commissioner acknowledged on Friday “no decisions” about the taskforces’ future had been made yet.

The Youth Crime Taskforce was among a range of initiatives announced in February 2023 by then-Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and then-Police Minister Mark Ryan in the weeks after Mrs Lovell’s horrific murder.

Taskforce Guardian, a “flying squad” that sends teams into youth crime hotspots, was set up six months later.

Mrs Lovell was 41 years old when she was stabbed in the heart on the front lawn of her North Lakes home by one of two teens who broke in on Boxing Day 2022.

The teens had planned to steal a car but were forced out the front door by Mrs Lovell and her husband Lee as their two daughters slept inside.

Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski and police minister Dan Purdie are in talks over the youth crime taskforces.

Dan Purdie LNP candidate for Ninderry during a media conference at Hotel Namba, Nambour. Picture: Liam Kidston

The juvenile who stabbed Mrs Lovell pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to 14 years behind bars.

His co-accused, who did not have a weapon, was found not guilty of murder and manslaughter but guilty of burglary and assault in a judge-alone trial.

Her death sparked a massive outcry, including a petition that amassed tens of thousands of signatures calling for harsher laws for juvenile offenders.

Six months after the Youth Crime Taskforce was announced, Mr Ryan announced the establishment of Taskforce Guardian, which would see detectives and youth justice workers deployed to youth crime hot spots in order to disrupt offending.

The taskforce was part of a $17 million government investment, he said at the time.

Guardian marked its 100th deployment in October, with the Queensland Police Service announcing 2093 young people had been charged with 6167 offences over 102 operations.

A further 980 youths had been engaged with and diverted from the youth justice system.

The former government announced in April it had provided extra funding to the Youth Crime Taskforce to make it a permanent operational capability. It is understood the taskforces have not been made permanent.

Staff have been temporarily allocated to Taskforce Guardian until June 30, 2025, according to a question on notice to Mr Ryan last year.

Emma Lovell was victims of a home invasion. Picture: Facebook

Asked whether the Youth Crime Taskforce and Taskforce Guardian would be continued, Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said they would continue to have a “strong focus on youth crime”.

“I’m in dial-up with the government about what we will do with youth crime going forward,” he said.

“No decisions made yet, of course, but we are really committed to it. The youth crime taskforce continues, it’s doing great work.

“I was talking to (Youth Crime Taskforce head Assistant Commissioner) Andrew Massingham this morning about that, about the work they are doing and thanking them for their hard work.

“I’m sure that there is a very strong focus on youth crime from the government and I expect to see things enhance in that space.”

A spokesperson for Police Minister Dan Purdie said: “The Crisafulli Government remains committed to restoring safety where you live by reducing youth crime.

“The Police Minister is engaged in discussions with the QPS about the ongoing operational needs of police to ensure this happens.”

Originally published as Future is unclear over two youth crime taskforces set up after Emma Lovell death