City’s jailbird hotspots

THOSE living in Nerang are three times more likely to be in prison than Robina residents, according to the latest Queensland Government data.

Of the 659 Gold Coasters in prisons across Queensland on May 1, almost a third of them come from Southport (76), Nerang (51), Surfers Paradise (40) or Labrador (38).

However, on a per capita basis prisoners are more likely to come from Nerang than any other suburb.

Demographer Bernard Salt said to compare the suburbs they had to be measured on a per capita basis.

Nerang has one prisoner for every 330 residents. Robina has one prisoner for every 1050 residents.

“Robina would have a low figure because it is a family type of community, households in the family formation of the life cycle,” Mr Salt said.

“You are buying a home and raising children there.”

Southport and Nerang had more transient people, he said.

“You have people who are more independent therefore their actions are more likely to just impact themselves.”

However, he said the relationship between the two suburbs were fluid.

“Robina is settled where people have prescribed to a life that is safe and secure. But then someone from Robina might a have a relationship break down. One partner might move into an apartment in Nerang or Southport and be inclined to go off the rails.”

He said that was not say people in Robina and those other suburbs didn’t break the law. Mudgeeraba, Paradise Point, all 9; Merrimac, Oxenford, both 8; Coolangatta, Currumbin, both 7; Currumbin Waters, Highland Park, both 6; Broadbeach Waters, Worongary, both 5; Jacobs Well, Parkwood, both 4; Broadbeach, Hope Island, Lower Beechmont, Main Beach, Tallebudgera, all 3; Gaven, Reedy Creek, Tallai, Tugun, Wongawallan, all 2; Advancetown, Bilinga, Burleigh, Cedar Creek,Gilston, Helensvale, Maudsland, Mount Nathan, Tallebudgera Valley, Willow Vale, all 1.