22 June, 2022
Youth crime a worry for locals
The current upsurge in criminal offences being committed by younger people across the region is causing concern for local residents.
The spate of car theft in particular is creating problems, not simply because of the theft itself, but because of the added threat to security of residents.
In one case at Cambooya recently, young offenders entered a home and stole the keys of a vehicle along with the automatic opener for a garage door.
They later returned and opened the garage door before driving off in the vehicle.
One local told On Our Selection News that he felt the problem was exacerbated by the tendency for punishment being handed down to be too lenient.
Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll has said that the youth crime wave is a phenomenon that is sweeping across the country.
Commissioner Carroll said there is a really tough group of young people who are committing about 48 per cent of the crime.
Across Queensland this involves some 400 young people who the Commissioner said have been “relentlessly offending”.
Queensland Opposition Leader David Crisafulli said the youth justice system in the state must change.
“Our youth justice system currently sends a message to young criminals that there are no consequences for their offending,” Mr Crisafulli said.
“But there must be consequences for actions.
“We must have laws in this state that are fit for purpose, we must have a Youth Justice Act that enables young offenders to turn their lives around and we must also impose sentences that protect our community.”
Mr Crisafulli referred to a petition launched by Redlands Mayor Karen Williams following the ten year sentence handed down to the juvenile offender whose actions resulted in the deaths of Brisbane couple Matthew Field, Kate Leadbetter and their unborn child.
Close to 50,000 people have now signed the petition calling for changes to the Youth Justice Act.
However Police Minister Mark Ryan claims the system is working for the vast majority of offenders.
Mr Ryan said 85 per cent of offenders never return to crime.
Speaking to 7 News Queensland the Commissioner referred to the difficulties young offenders face in their own lives.
“In many cases the families are disadvantaged, are dysfunctional - in many cases the parents aren’t even home, and often in jail themselves,” she said.
