TIME TO TURN UP HEAT ON YOUTH CRIME
IT is almost not news. Such is the regularity these days that youth crims are stealing cars to go joyriding – often by breaking into luxury homes to get the keys to fast rides. In the latest example, police arrested six teenagers – aged 16 and under – after deploying tyre deflation devices (their preferred method instead of high-risk, high-speed chases) to bring a stolen Toyota Aurion to a halt in Coomera.
It takes to 18 the number of socalled kid crooks pinged in stolen cars on the Gold Coast this month – and there is still a week to go.
As a city, as a state (the problem is just as bad in other areas, including Townsville) we need to do more than just scratch our heads.
The timing of the latest bust comes days after Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate called for a city summit to try and look at how to address the spiralling youth crime crisis.
The Bulletin and the Mayor have clashed plenty down the years and have a robust relationship.
But on this one, the masthead wholeheartedly backs his call and will pick up the baton to organise a citywide, good old-fashioned “enough is enough” town hall meeting on the matter.
Let’s bring together the voices that matter on this conundrum – the victims, the police, the support workers, parents and leaders wanting to make a difference to bring pressure to bear on those in power.
The impact of a state level taskforce to tackle youth crime is not being felt on the ground. Credit where it is due – a recent wanding trial checking youths for weapons, specifically knives, is having success.
But it is time to ramp up the pressure and push for change.
The catch and release of youth criminals is driving police crazy. The Bulletin has long reported that.
As Mr Tate highlighted in frustration, about 50 known young crims have been “taunting the community”.
The other challenge facing police and services and the community is working to ensure those on the fringe of the hardened youth criminals don’t join that group.
That is complex ongoing work. Along with addressing knife crime, where authorities like police find it difficult to get cut-through with the younger generation, new and innovative approaches must be deployed.
Hearing about the scope of the problem and putting the magnifying glass on it at a community level can only help. As Mermaid MP Ray Stevens has said some parents are at their “wits end”. So are police and many others. Watch this space.