Queensland Police have created 29 new frontline police officer positions, a new Mobile Police Beat and investigative positions to focus on youth crime in the Darling Downs District,
Announced by Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll and Minister for Fire and Emergency Services, Mark Ryan, the new positions are to have key policing roles to focus on youth crime.
Commissioner Carroll said police in the Darling Downs District had been applying a range of strategies to address youth crime.
“The district established a 27-officer squad, comprising members of the Tactical Crime Squad and Toowoomba Property Crime Unit, dedicated to ensuring a timely and effective response,” Commissioner Carroll said.
“In nearly 12 months, members of the squad visited 1,739 addresses, conducted 1,448 bail checks and 1,422 street checks, and charged 295 offenders with a total of 693 charges,” she said.
“Importantly, officers have also been working closely with our partner agencies to ensure a whole-of-Government approach to targeting serious repeat offenders, as well as collaborating with community groups to ensure at-risk youth do not progress down the path of crime.”
The Commissioner said four of the new police positions had already been allocated to Goondiwindi Station, which will now operate as a 24-hour station as a result, and two positions to enhance the Toowoomba Domestic Violence and Vulnerable Persons Unit.
She said a new Mobile Police Beat had been allocated to the Darling Downs District, with delivery expected by the end of this month.
Mr Ryan said the frontline staff, the new Mobile Police Beat, and the ongoing focus on youth crime were expected to enhance community safety in the district.
“Twenty-nine police officers will have an immediate effect in boosting policing resources, and I am pleased to see that several of these staff are already in place in Goondiwindi and Toowoomba,” Mr Ryan said.
“The new Mobile Police Beat will further enhance local policing resources, providing greater flexibility and allowing police to deploy directly to areas of community need,” he said
Commissioner Carroll said youth crime remained a strong focus in the district, with a range of targeted operations seeing more than 350 offenders charged since 1 July 2021, and community-based prevention initiatives bringing police and communities together to address problems.
