Operation targeting youth and property crime getting results in Cairns

An operation targeting youth and property crime in Cairns has netted over 80 people since it was launched, Police Minister Mark Ryan announced today.

Mr Ryan said officers told him 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 hot spots and issues that have been specifically identified by intelligence officers who have been analysing crime trends and patterns of offending,” he said.

“Based on this expert advice, officers have been able to actively target property crime committed by young people between the ages of 13 and 17 as well as recidivist adult property offenders.”

Mr Ryan said the operation was drawing on all of the available police resources in Cairns.

“This operation has a real collaborative approach. For example, over the past week alone, officers from Cairns general duties, the Tactical Crime Squad, the Property Crime Squad and the Dog Squad have all been involved,” he said.

Member for Barron River Craig Crawford said these fantastic results were a testimony to the great team work and dedication of each and every officer from across the Far North District.

“Our community is lucky to have some of the most dedicated and talented men and women in blue,” he said.

“Just last month, 17 new First Year Constables were deployed to our District.

“The Palaszczuk Government has committed to funding 47 extra officers in the Far North District over the next four years.”

Police statistics illustrate their hard work is having a positive impact, with a decrease in the rate of robberies, property damage, drug offences and trespassing in the first quarter of 2017-18.

Member for Cairns Michael Healy said the Palaszczuk Government was committed to providing police with the resources they needed to keep our community safe.

“Our Government knows that the solution to tackling crime means more than arresting people,” he said.

“That is why Labor has funded Project Booyah, which has achieved success in diverting a number of youths from offending lifestyles. The initiative won the Gold Award at the 2017 Australian Crime and Violence Prevention Awards and continues to engage with at-risk young people, providing support and mentoring through a series of social and educational opportunities. 

“On top of this, we have the Cairns Safer Streets Taskforce, comprising a multi-disciplinary team from across government departments, which continues to address community safety concerns in Cairns.”

Northern Region Acting Assistant Commissioner Kev Guteridge said Far North District police would continue to take decisive action against those in the community – including young people – who are breaking into homes, stealing cars and committing other property offences.

“We know there is no one-size-fits-all approach to combating crime – that is why we are committed to putting in the hard yards, generating high-quality intelligence and using that information to guide our frontline officers in their work out on the beat,” Acting Assistant Commissioner Guteridge said.

“We will continue to analyse that intelligence to identify trends in youth offending and adapt operations and other strategies to deal with the issue accordingly.

“In other words, the hard work continues – and so will Operation Papa Achieve.”

FAST FACTS:

86 people have been apprehended during Operation Papa Achieve, which has been running since September 2017.

As a result of investigations, 298 charges have been preferred.

Some significant arrests during the operation have included:

• A 16-year-old boy charged with 14 property offences including burglary, unlawful use of a motor vehicle and assault;
• A 15-year-old charged with 17 offences including burglary, unlawful use of a motor vehicle and stealing;
• A 17-year-old charged with 12 offences including burglary, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, a return to prison warrant and breach of parole;
• a 20-year-old man charged with 74 offences including serious assault, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle; and
• A 27-year-old man charged with 53 offences including a return to prison warrant, robbery, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, burglary.

Media contacts 

Police Minister’s office: 3035 8300

Police Media:               3015 2444