Drop in youth offences in state

Queensland police say there has been a 10 per cent decrease in offences committed by youths in the first quarter of 2024, compared to the same time last year.

Police also say the number of serious repeat youth offenders has decreased every month since November, or an overall decrease of eight per cent, with 435 currently listed in Queensland.

Reported offences committed by youth offenders relating to property such as vehicle theft and stealing have decreased 7.8 per cent in the period according to police, from 11,163 between January and March 2023 to 10,294 in the period between January and March 2024.

Police say reported offences against people by youths such as robbery and assaults has also decreased 14.2 per cent in the same reporting period from 2107 offences last year to 1807 offences this year.

The service said the annual crime statistics had also found that one in 10 unique offenders were aged between 10 to 17.

Acting Assistant Commissioner Andrew Massingham said there were 435 serious repeat offenders in Queensland, which had dropped since November.

“We’ve had a four-month drop in that each month since November, or an overall drop of eight per cent in the serious repeat offender index,” he said.

“That is lowest number of serious repeat offenders in Queensland for the last 12 months.

“More importantly, though, because that is only one indicator, across the state in the first quarter of 2024 we’ve seen a 10.7 per cent decrease in youth offending.

“That is across the entirety of the state, that is not in each district.”

Project Booyah is set up to help at-risk young people to help combat their offending, operating in 11 locations.