A real crime not to have a curfew

OUR city has been turned into a lawless playground.

The young criminals’ recent wild weekend antics were unbelievable yet the only reaction from the State Government was to brag they are doing a great job.

Then, on September 22, after the 6.30am ABC Radio local news I was amazed to hear police were trying to apprehend a “convoy” of stolen cars tearing through Townsville. On top of that we were told police and the public had been threatened with firearms and knives.

Citizens are expressing their fear in going about their business and it now seems we must be vigilant within our own homes.

Coralie Cassidy, in her letter about youth crime and Neil Pattel ( TB, 23/ 09), both called for a youth curfew. Such a curfew is a positive proposition and while it will upset the permanently outraged groups, it is practicable.

Hard work at the start, it can initially reduce juvenile crime by more than 20 per cent in the first year of implementation.

There should be a 10pm- 5am curfew in place for children up to the age of 17, unless unaccompanied by a parent/ guardian.

Those young people needing to travel between employment and home would carry a letter confirming this, countersigned and stamped at a police station.

Unaccompanied children found without authorisation on the streets at night by the police, will be taken to a safe house for identification and their wellbeing ascertained.

The police will then attend the home to determine it is a safe environment. Subsequently, the parent/ guardian will be directed to attend the centre at their own cost and retrieve their child.

When doing so, they will also receive a financial penalty notice, payable within 30 days.

If the parent pleads they do not have funds to pay a fine, they will be set community service tasks for a set period.

Even the slower learning parents/ guardians will soon realise it is better to exert their lawful responsibility than have to regain their child in the early hours of the morning, along with being hit in the hip pocket.

Genuine parents, needing assistance in controlling their children will be supported.

Unfortunately, neither major party has yet expressed interest in a curfew.

Labor is determined to continue with its tried and failed policies and the only LNP policy addition is to make it more difficult for recidivist car thieves to get a driving licence.

Hey, they don’t care about licences and last I saw, they don’t need one to steal.

Instead of drafting ineffective legislation, both parties must realise if they fail to heed the will of the people, minor parties with some grit will attract sufficient votes to have a substantial balance of power to control the State Parliament. Ignore us at your own peril. JEFF WILLIAMS,

Condon.