Tasmania Police launch new taskforce to fight ‘youth crime crisis’ in Glenorchy

Tasmania Police has launched a new taskforce to crack down on antisocial behaviour in Glenorchy amid an ongoing debate over a “youth crime crisis” in the area.

Tasmania Police is stepping up its focus on reducing anti-social behaviour and retail crime in the Glenorchy municipality, launching Taskforce Respect, a new community campaign involving high visibility patrols in the CBD and shopping areas. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Tasmania police have launched a new taskforce to deter anti-social behaviour and retail crime in Glenorchy, as Mayor Sue Hickey labelled the area’s reputation as a crime hotspot “unfair”.

Titled “Taskforce Respect”, the initiative will see an increase in visible policing in the municipality, supported by the intelligence service, dog squads and drones.

The taskforce comes amid ongoing debate around a “worsening youth crime crisis” in the area.

Police data reveals just 57 young people made up 50 per cent of youth crime charges across the state in 2024.

Glenorchy Police Inspector Jason Klug said the intention of the noticeable police presence was to enhance public safety and community confidence in the Glenorchy CBD.

“The intent of the Taskforce Respect is to provide a high level of public reassurance, while holding those people to account that are offending within our CBD area,” he said.

Inspector Jason Klug. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

With the operation extending into Moonah and Claremont, officers will be targeting recidivist offenders and anti-social behaviour.

“We acknowledge there have been some isolated incidents that have been within our media about the Glenorchy area, we acknowledge the seriousness of these individual incidents,” he said.

“We are using the intelligence that we have and all of our resources to put into this task force to ensure that we are identifying those recidivist offenders that are affecting the people in that society.”

While Glenorchy’s mayor Sue Hickey welcomed the additional police support, she said the area’s reputation as “dangerous” was a cause for concern.

Mayor of Glenorchy Sue Hickey. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“We are extremely grateful to the Tasmanian Police and the state government for giving us these extra resources,” she said.

“There isn’t a city in Tasmania or in the world that does not suffer from crime, and particularly the sort of crime that happens around shopping centres.

“Social media has a lot to answer for, someone spreads a myth anonymously and then all of a sudden we are the centre of crime, and that is so unfair.

“Glenorchy has been celebrating a downturn in crime … of 36% in December figures.”

Member for Clark Simon Behrakis said the government was looking into toughening bail and sentencing laws in response to “a rise in youth crime”.

Simon Behrakis Liberal member for Clark. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“As the Premier said, all options are on the table. That’s everything from our bail laws to diversionary and other support measures,” he said.

“It’s fantastic to see this increasing police presence to help reduce this increase in youth crime we’re seeing especially in the northern suburbs.”

Taskforce Respect began operating on May 12.