SCALE OF FNQ CRISIS

Action in Townsville but our crime is worse

LATEST Queensland Police Service data shows criminal offences in Cairns far exceed that of Townsville’s.

The statistics reveal that the Far North recorded 8000 more offences last year than the southern city.

Yet Townsville receives better police resources, including eight more new officers, a dedicated Rapid Action Patrol unit and a major property crime operation to be headed by a retired army chief.

A FAR Northern MP is rejecting suggestions the region is being short-changed on police resources despite recording higher crime rates than Townsville for 10 of the past 12 months.

A major property crime operation was announced for Townsville last month with retired Major General Stuart Smith appointed by Premier Anastasia Palaszczuk to spearhead the effort and become the “community champion”.

Townsville also has had a Rapid Action Patrol group for about three years, while Cairns has not received one of its own despite being repeatedly flagged as a priority by Police Commissioner Ian Stewart.

Additional officers announced by the State Government in a pre-election promise last year was also higher for Townsville (53) than Cairns (45).

Barron River MP Craig Crawford conceded crime rates in the Far North were regularly higher than the Townsville district, but did not believe the region was missing out.

He said he would like the operation involving retired Major General Smith mirrored in the Far North if it was successful.

“It’s very concerning about where things are going and how we deal with this,” he said.

“I’m keen to see whether this is a successful model and if it is I want to see that up here as well.

“That’s the kind of leadership we need, someone who’s not a politician who can look at it with a whole new set of eyes.”

According to Queensland Police Service data, there were more than 8000 additional offences recorded in the Far North last year than Townsville. FNQ also registered a higher crime rate per 100,000 people during 2017.

Townsville’s rates were only higher in February and June.

The number of property offences was also higher in the Far North through every month last year.

The Far North district extends from Cardwell to the Torres Strait and west to Croydon, while the Townsville district goes from Ayr to Ingham and to Richmond in the west.

Far North police Chief Superintendent Brett Schafferius said the demographics between the two districts were very different.

He said Cairns’s property crime squad continued to yield strong results with 515 people charged with 2499 offences in the past seven months and there remained a strong focus on recidivist offenders.

“We continue to review our strategies to adjust our approaches and are always identifying new avenues to work with the community,” he said.