Strong start to concerted effort against youth crime in Townsville

Published Friday, 07 October, 2016 at 02:42 PM

Minister for Disability Services, Minister for Seniors and Minister Assisting the Premier on North Queensland
The Honourable Coralee O'Rourke

A concerted State Government effort to tackle youth crime in Townsville has made a strong start, Minister Assisting the Premier on North Queensland Coralee O’Rourke said today.

Ms O’Rourke chaired a meeting in Townsville of Directors-General of eight government agencies involved in a five-point plan to curb high levels of youth crime in the city.

The meeting discussed details of actions that are being taken in support of the plan.

“The aim of the plan is not just to substantially reduce the incidence of youth crime but, even more importantly, to break the cycle of youth crime,” Ms O’Rourke said.

The meeting, also attended by senior government representatives involved in the Townsville Stronger Communities initiative, Townsville MP Scott Stewart and Thuringowa MP Aaron Harper, was briefed on results from the targeted policing element of the plan, Operation Oscar Merchant.

Police have used several strategies to address offending behaviour, including a compliance and case management approach, as well as enforcing bail conditions and curfews.

“We recognise, however, that a tough policing response is not the only answer to crime,” she said.

“In today’s meeting we also discussed how a range of government services are being deployed in a coordinated and focused manner to break the cycle of youth crime.

“By improving collaboration and service integration we will ensure that young people who are involved in criminal activity get the services they need to turn their lives around.”

Ms O’Rourke said the Townsville Stronger Communities Action Group was providing integrated, on-the-ground support for the five-point plan.

The Action Group comprises a senior representative from key agencies, and is headed by police Inspector Glenn Doyle, who has been appointed as Government Coordinator.

The group will be co-located from mid-October at the police Rapid Action Patrol Group building at Condon. The agencies involved are: 

o   Queensland Police Service

o   Department of Justice and Attorney-General

o   Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services

o   Department of Housing and Public Works

o   Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships

o   Department of Education and Training

o   Queensland Health.

The Action Group will provide intensive case management for selected young people involved in offending and their families, to increase economic participation and reduce youth offending.

The five-point plan for reducing youth crime in Townsville announced in Parliament last month includes:

o   targeted policing

o   local, community-driven responses

o   addressing causes of offending

o   boosting jobs, training and education

o   improving collaboration and integration of services.

 

Media Contact:                                  Minister O’Rourke’s office                  3719 7170