MEDIA STATEMENT: Suburbs under siege from generation of serious repeat offenders

Suburbs under siege from generation of serious repeat offenders

• New data reveals key locations for youth crime offences and where Queensland’s most prolific serious youth offenders live, with more than 50,000 youth crime offences recorded so far this year.
• South Brisbane police region named the worst for youth crime, Far North Police region the home to the most serious repeat youth offenders.
• The Crisafulli Government will pass Adult Crime, Adult Time laws this week to help communities under siege from youth crime.  

New police data reveals the true extent of Labor’s Youth Crime Crisis, and how it has spread to every corner of the state, holding Queensland communities hostage.

More than 50,000 youth crime offences have been committed in Queensland communities so far this year, including by a cohort of the state’s most serious youth offenders. 

The data paints a clear picture of a state under siege from youth crime, including:

• Far North: 6,829 reported offences by juvenile offenders in 2024, including 78 identified serious repeat youth offenders.
• Townsville: 4,175 reported offences by juvenile offenders in 2024, including 68 identified serious repeat youth offenders.
• Logan: 2,037 reported offences by juvenile offenders in 2024, including 46 identified serious repeat youth offenders.
• South Brisbane: 7,592 reported offences by juvenile offenders in 2024, including 39 identified serious repeat youth offenders.

The data clearly reveals the need for the Making Queensland Safer Laws, which will be passed by the Parliament as a priority this week and are the first step to restoring community safety.

Premier David Crisafulli said under Labor Queensland suburbs became youth crime warzones, under siege from a generation of repeat offenders running riot and robbing our safety.  

“The Making Queensland Safer laws are the first strike back to restore safety where you live, wherever you live in Queensland,” Premier Crisafulli said. 

“Our message is clear: if you do the crime, you will be sentenced to the time. Adult Crime, Adult Time will arrest youth crime and restore safety to Queensland.” 

Minister for Police and Emergency Services Dan Purdie said communities with serious repeat offenders living in their neighbourhoods would benefit the most from the tougher Adult Crime, Adult Time laws.  

“The residents living in these areas have been let down for too long under the former Government who allowed serious repeat youth offenders to avoid adequate punishment and let them continue to terrorise these communities,” Minister Purdie said. 

“Our Making Queensland Safer laws will see an end to police officers trying to do their jobs with one hand tied behind their backs.” 

Minister for Youth Justice and Victim Support and Minister for Corrective Services Laura Gerber said after a decade in power, Labor’s failure to act on youth crime was a failure for every Queenslander who deserves to feel safe.  

“From Coolangatta to Cairns and Brisbane to Boulia, juvenile serious repeat offenders are continuing to tear families and communities apart,” Minister Gerber said.  

“Serious repeat offenders deserve serious consequences and the Crisafulli Government will deliver them as we said we would.”  

ENDS 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Full breakdown of data by police district is below. 

MEDIA CONTACT: 
Premier: Amanda Templeton 0417 657 437
Police Minister: Lauren Brown 0415 772 677