Cairns police cracking down on crime with special operation

Published Saturday, 17 March, 2018 at 03:16 PM

Minister for Police and Minister for Corrective Services
The Honourable Mark Ryan

Cairns police have charged 195 people on 784 charges since January 1, as officers continue to target property offences in the community.

Meeting with Member for Cairns Michael Healy and officers from the Cairns Property Crime Squad (CPCS), Police Minister Mark Ryan said the CPCS had recovered approximately $200,000 of stolen property this year alone.

“In addition to the work of the CPCS police in the Far North District, police have also achieved significant results with Operation Papa Achieve,” Mr Ryan said.

Operation Papa Achieve is a joint operation between Cairns-based plain-clothed and uniformed officers which and specifically targets known property offenders, as well as and crime hotspots.

“Since January 1 this year, officers performing duties as part of Operation Papa Achieve have charged 76 offenders with a total of 149 offences.”

Mr Healy said Operation Papa Achieve had put a real dent in youth and property crime across the District since it started in September last year.

“This operation is intelligence-based and designed to target crime hotspots and issues that have been specifically identified by intelligence officers,” Mr Healy said.

“Our Cairns police are putting in the hard yards, and the Palaszczuk Government is committed to backing them in.

“That is why this Government is delivering 47 extra police personnel in Cairns over the next four years, on top of the 17 new First Year Constables deployed to the Far North District in December.”

Chief Superintendent Brett Schafferius said Cairns police remain committed to investigations and charging those responsible for property offences in the Far North District.

“Property crime is one of the most common offences impacting the community but the impact on community confidence can be significant which is why police are dedicated to addressing the issue,” Chief Superintendent Schafferius said.

ENDS

 

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Emma McBryde 0447 155 332