Palaszczuk Government launches new campaign to target crime

Police Minister Bill Byrne and Northern Region Assistant Commissioner Paul Taylor today announced a new campaign to reduce crime in the Townsville District.

Minister Byrne and Assistant Commissioner Taylor were joined by local MPs Coralee O’Rourke, Scott Stewart and Aaron Harper who have been advocating hard to increase targeted operations in Townsville to reduce crime in the area.

Minister Byrne said police and recruits would door-knock specific areas to reduce ‘opportunistic’ offences.

“Townsville police charged 606 people with 1990 property offences in the first eight months of this year,” Minister Byrne said.

“In 2015, Townsville police charged 694 people with 2446 property offences.

“Last week in parliament, myself, Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath, State Member for Mundingburra Coralee O’Rourke, State Member for Thuringowa Aaron Harper and State Member for Townsville Scott Stewart sat down to map out a plan to tackle crime in Townsville.

“A shared opinion of the group was that despite police working tirelessly and a large number of arrests, property offences are continuing to increase.

“That is why together with the Queensland Police we have developed a campaign that aims to work with the community to reduce this type of crime.

“Targeted areas will be based on the most current intelligence holdings for criminal or anti-social trends across the district.

“The campaign will be boosted by the allocation of 15 new police recruits to the Townsville metropolitan area in December.

“This will be an ideal opportunity to introduce the graduating recruits to an operational policing environment with a focus on engagement and communication with the community.

“A Mobile Police Facility will be based in the door-knocking area to support operations and provide a highly visible policing presence in the community.

“This enhanced policing presence will not only reassure the community but act as a deterrent to offenders in the area."

Assistant Commissioner Taylor said ‘soft target’ offending, including unlocked or unsecured vehicles and premises, posed a significant challenge for local police.

“Community engagement and education is essential to reducing these types of offences," he said.

“We value the community’s input and are committed to working with them to reduce crime.”

Assistant Commissioner Taylor said the door-knock operation would be based on a model of police officers and recruits attending premises in areas identified by intelligence to:

• provide information to residents about crime trends in the area
• provide crime prevention advice to residents
• seek information from residents about specific crime or policing concerns
• seek information about crime in the community.

“Police will continue to target property offences through proactive and reactive patrols but this campaign will also address the issue through a crime prevention focus,” Assistant Commissioner Taylor said.

Minister Assisting the Premier on North Queensland and Member for Mundingburra Coralee O’Rourke said she had been working hard to put local crime high on the agenda with her Cabinet colleagues.

“As local Members, we have listened to the concerns raised by members of the community, and taken them directly to the Police Minister and the Attorney-General,” Mrs O’Rourke said.

“I’m pleased we are seeing such a strong focus on Townsville, with innovative solutions to crime that the whole community can play a part in.

“We are taking action now, so that Townsville can remain a great place to live and raise a family.”

State Member for Thuringowa Aaron Harper said today’s visit by the Police Minister highlights how serious the government is about tackling local issues in Townsville.

“Following on from the Community Crime Forum, hosted by the three local State Members, we want to ensure Townsville is building a Stronger Community,” Mr Harper said.

“I have worked hard to establish a Community Consultation group in the Upper Ross area where police play an integral role in informing the community of crime issues in their local community."

Townsville MP Scott Stewart said this new campaign illustrated just how important community safety was to the Palaszczuk Government.

"I've heard my constituents concerns and passed them on," he said.

"I'm grateful the Police Minister and Queensland Police Service have moved swiftly to implement this new campaign as another method to reduce crime."

ENDS 

Media Contacts:

Minister Byrne’s Office:0478 325 738

Police Media:                3015 2444