Call for chase review

POLICE Minister Mark Ryan and Attorney- General Yvette D’Ath have refused to comment on Sunday’s dramatic car chase, referring only to a 17 per cent reduction in youth offending in Townsville during the past year.

Both ministers were sent a range of questions yesterday, including what guarantee there was that the alleged thieves would not repeat offend after three of them were arrested.

A combined response was provided, however it was requested that it be attributed to a Government spokesman.

A response was also provided by the Queensland Police Service for questions Mr Ryan was not suited to answering.

In response to the car chase, the statement read: “As these matters are now under investigation and relate to police operations, it is not appropriate to comment further other than to say that anyone with information should contact Townsville Police or Crime Stoppers.”

It is understood the 18- yearold and 16- year- old who were arrested yesterday were being managed under the Townsville Stronger Communities program which was created by the State Government about a year ago.

When the Bulletin asked Ms D’Ath what evidence there was that the program was working, a spokesman said a combination of policing, work by the Stronger Communities Action Group and establishment of the Specialist High Risk Youth Court was reducing crime rates.

“It helps break the cycle of youth crime and identify those offenders who continue to commit offences in the Townsville area and has helped reduce the number of offences in the Townsville area,” they said.

“We recognise the best way to tackle these issues with young people is to implement evidencebased policies, turn their lives around, stop reoffending and to build stronger communities.

“And that’s what we’re doing. In Townsville, there has been a 17 per cent reduction in youth offending in the past year.”

Both Labor and the LNP have ruled out the need for Townsville to have a Special Emergency Response Team, ( SERT) which would be deployed in high- risk situations.

A police spokesman said there was a SERT based in Cairns and Brisbane, which were available on request.

Recruiting for 20 officers for the Rapid Action and Patrol team promised in the State Budget is also expected to start soon.

“There are an additional five officers currently performing duties in the area,” the police spokesman said.

LNP Shadow Police Minister Tim Mander said last night better legal frameworks needed to be established to bring offending youths to justice.

“It doesn’t matter how many times the police arrest these people, they are more than often back out on the street because of this revolving youth justice system,” he said.

“We believe the pursuit policy needs to be reviewed.

“At the moment offenders know that the police won’t pursue them, which makes them a lot bolder.”