MINISTER DECLARES ‘WE’RE GOING AFTER’ REPEAT YOUTH CRIMS

Program to focus on core youth offending

A SENIOR State Government minister has moved to quell outrage in Cairns on the back of a huge spike in juvenile offending, saying they would be “going after” recidivist offenders.

Dozens of charges have been laid against teenagers around the city in the past few days after car thefts, home break-ins, assaults and two ram raids.

Police confirmed on Monday crime around Cairns had been “escalating” in recent weeks.

Cairns was named as a site for the Community Youth Response last year after a successful trial in Townsville and Child Safety Minister Di Farmer said the core group of youths committing crimes would be the focus of the locally based program.

“Around 10 per cent of young offenders commit almost half of youth crime,” she said.

“These are the young offenders we are targeting through our Community Youth Response – the CYR model has shown a 27 per cent reduction in reoffending for the highest risk group of young people.

“And if you’ve been a victim of one of those offenders, you can be confident that we are going after those offenders.”

The Cairns Post can reveal Wuchopperen Health Service Limited and Youth Empowered Towards Independence have been named as the organisations who will be funded to diversion and cultural mentoring services in Cairns.

The services will be aimed at youths aged 10-15.

The Cairns program is one of five CYRs being rolled out across the state as part of $332.5 million in youth justice reforms.

Cairns MP Michael Healy said the program was given credit for a 25 per cent drop in reoffending by recidivist offenders.

“We’ve looked at what works with the Townsville model and we’ve tailored it to Cairns, building on the strengths of local organisations who have a strong track record in getting these kids back into education, training and culture,” he said.

“YETI and Wuchopperen will work closely with police and youth justice workers to support young people in Cairns who are at risk of offending and need help to turn their lives around.

“Young people who commit crime often come from tough backgrounds, but if we intervene early and reconnect young people with their communities we will have the best chance of breaking the cycle of crime.”

Wuchopperen executive director Toni Tapim said the $271,000 annual funding her organisation received ensured the cultural mentoring services were available in Cairns.

“Our diversion services make sure the causes of offending and anti-social behaviour are addressed in culturally appropriate ways,” she said.

“We work in response to requests from police to provide alternatives to charge and remanding young people in custody.

“And we’re mobile – we have an outreach bus available during high-risk times to respond to needs as they present.”

If you’ve been a victim of one of those offenders, you can be confident that we are going after those offenders. CHILD SAFETY MINISTER DI FARMER