State Youth Crime Squad to Target Areas with Rising Youth Crime
Queensland’s government boosts youth crime response with new officers and funding
Queensland, Youth Crime, David Crisafulli, Police, Legislation
Queensland: A new youth crime rapid response unit is on the way, thanks to 41 fresh officers joining the team. This comes just a month after some stricter laws were put in place.
The Queensland government is pouring $32.4 million into the State Flying Squad over the next five years. These officers will be sent to areas where crime is on the rise.
Taskforce Guardian has been a key part of the police’s strategy against youth crime, starting with 17 officers. With this new funding, they’ll be able to triple that number.
Premier David Crisafulli mentioned that this boost really puts the “rapid” in rapid response. He’s all about tackling the hot issues that are flaring up across the state.
Before the October election, Crisafulli and the LNP promised a tougher stance on crime. He emphasized that this new approach is crucial for the Queensland Police Service.
In December, the government passed some pretty controversial laws called “adult crime, adult time.” These laws mean that young offenders could face harsher sentences.
Now, kids as young as 10 could be looking at life sentences for serious crimes like murder or manslaughter. It’s a big shift in how youth crime is handled.
A recent report showed that the number of kids aged 13 or younger in adult watch houses has jumped by 50% in just a year. It’s clear that this issue is becoming more pressing.