Palaszczuk Government thanks Queensland Police for oustanding efforts in targeting Serious Organised Crime

Minister for Police Mark Ryan thanked the hard working police men and women across the State in Queensland Parliament today for their outstanding efforts in targeting Serious Organised Crime.

“The Palaszczuk Government will not stop when it comes to providing our police with the resources and tough laws needed to get those involved in all forms of Serious Organised Crime off our streets,” Minister Ryan said.

“On the 1 May 2017 the new Organised Crime Gangs Group kicked into action and has already been achieving fantastic results.

“Under the new Organised Crime Gangs Group, overall staffing numbers will build to around 130 including the now permanent police unit Taskforce Maxima.

“Due to Taskforce Maxima’s relentless pursuit, the number of OMCGs in Queensland has almost halved.

“Patched OMCG membership has plunged from 1158 in late 2013 to 695 as of last week and 179 members have formally disassociated themselves from their gangs.

“When compared to other states, Maxima detectives report that public violence involving crime gangs in Queensland is low.

“The Palaszczuk Government has introduced the toughest and most effective laws in the nation that deal with all forms of Serious Organised Crime in our State

“We also committed an additional $20 million over four years for the QPS to specifically target serious organised crime in our State

“While we have focused on disrupting and dismantling OMCG’s we have also focused in on eliminating other forms of horrific serious organised crime in our state.

“The Palaszczuk Government introduced tough new laws to tackle child exploitation material on the internet and target those who use technology to promote and distribute offending material and conceal their offending

“Our government has backed up our highly successful laws with more police officers, more resources and cutting-edge technology.

“The Palaszczuk Government will always put the wellbeing of Queenslanders and our frontline men and women who serve them first.

“Queenslanders can be rest assured that the Palaszczuk Government will continue to work closely with our hard working police to remove those participating in Serious Organised Crime activity in our state off our streets.”

ENDS

Media contact: Michelle Connolly 0478 325 738