Cops haul in youth offenders

POLICE have cracked down on youth crime in Mount Isa, arresting dozens of children in the past fortnight.

Operation Papa Tuscon has produced 68 arrests since December 23.

Mount Isa Police District Tactician Senior Sergeant Brad Inskip said the operation was about prevention, with juvenile offenders accounting for a large portion of the city’s crime.

For property- related offences 25 youths were arrested on 47 charges.

A further 16 were arrested for breaching court- ordered curfews, five for public nuisance offences, and 11 youths were officially cautioned.

“There is definitely a perception in the community that juveniles are committing a lot of crimes,” Sen- Sgt Inskip said.

“We have a core group of approximately 20 youth offenders – they’d make a large portion of the total crimes.”

Ten police officers from Townsville and Cairns served in Mount Isa this week and further staff sharing is expected to take place in the future.

Sen- Sgt Inskip said police were trying to work with families of young offenders in an effort to break bad habits.

“We are definitely seeing juveniles walking around the streets at night when you’d expect them to be in bed,” he said.

“Part of the strategy and what we’ve been doing for a while is to try and take the kids home when we can.

“We are visiting parents to talk to them about their responsibility as parents and we try to get them to engage with family support services.

“We refer children to such services but we also refer the parents as well.”

Sen- Sgt Inskip said Operation Papa Tuscon would continue and encouraged the public to help police by providing information on youth offences.