The recently announced funding to boost proactive crime initiatives by Police is being supported by what Member for Burdekin, Dale Last MP, calls the first true multi-faceted approach to the issue in a decade.

Across the state, early intervention programs are ramping up with both short and longer-form programs aimed at supporting at-risk youth, and their families, to deter them from crime and guide them toward employment and engaging productively in the community.

“There is a wide range of factors that contribute to a young person going down the wrong path and turning to crime,” Mr Last said.  “Where youths are committing crime, we make no apology for using detention to remove them from the community but, if we can prevent them turning to crime in the first place, it means less crime and fewer victims.”

“In my time as a Police officer I saw first-hand that preventing youth crime is quite achievable, but it takes a real effort and funding, not just words.  Under the previous government, we heard a lot of words but very little in the way of real action.”

“In contrast, we have funded programs that range from providing support and mentoring right the way through to taking at-risk youth away from bad influences and social media to provide them with training and skills in a new environment.  That means there is a pathway dependent on what individual and family issues we need to address to get that young person back on the right track and to prevent crime.”

“We’ve been up-front as far as what lays ahead for young people who are committing crime or are heading down that pathway.  The government will offer support to help them turn their lives around but, if they choose to engage in crime instead, there will be serious consequences for their actions.”

Mr Last said another key part of addressing the youth crime issue was reliable, current data to inform the community and guide government programs.

“In the past, victim data was only released annually and, by the time it was released by the Bureau of Statistics, it was up to 18 months old,” he said.  “Our community deserves to know what is happening now and, from a planning point of view, you need to be able to react more quickly.”

“Effectively, we have added to the data available by releasing data from the Queensland Police Service monthly which is in addition to the yearly reports.  By making more data available, and easier to understand, the government is delivering the transparency that we committed to.”

“There is still a lot of work to do when it comes the making Queenslanders feel safe in their homes again but there is evidence that our current approach is making a definite impact.  Rates will differ across regions but, at a state level, the number of victims of car theft and unlawful entry are both down 6.4% and 12% respectively, compared to the same time last year.”

“Our response has a dual approach with both a statewide focus and with programs that can be adapted to suit the particular areas that need attention on a region-by-region basis.  The response is spread across multiple departments working cooperatively on fully funded programs that, for the first time in a decade, means we can prevent crime and respond accordingly when it is committed.”