Cops powerless to stop young thugs
NEW Avenues Tavern general manager Greg McDonald has been left frustrated by acts of senseless vandalism he says have caused nearly $ 30,000 worth of damage.
Mr McDonald, who started about six weeks ago in his new role, said he had been battling a pair of youths who had repeatedly damaged the Kirwan pub.
He said during his first week at the venue two youths had climbed onto the roof and pulled off a fire extinguisher from the plant and equipment area.
They tried to smash the glass doors but failed, so they climbed back onto the roof and smashed satellite dishes, security cameras and fluoro lights.
He said the youths, believed to be two boys aged 13 and 14, returned for a few days before staff collared them.
A week later Mr McDon- ald said the youths had returned.
“I’ve just had a gutful of it,” he said.
He said the mother of one of the boys had messaged him explaining her exasperation, having tried and failed to keep her son at home at night.
Mr McDonald said he had been disappointed police had not been able to do more to help when he raised the issues with them and showed them messages documenting disrespect for officers.
“Maybe they need to go and have a chat to these kids,” Mr McDonald said.
“It’s ridiculous. I don’t know what the answer is.”
Townsville police Chief Superintendent Kev Guteridge said the level of community frustration was evident and it was shared by police on the front lines.
He said the answers to the disrespect issues were held by families, who were ultimately responsible for the actions of young offenders.
He said police often found young criminals sleeping off their nightly activities through the day, when they were meant to be at school.
Chief- Supt Guteridge said police worked closely with venues and businesses and they could issue banning notices that let officers take trespass- related action.
But he said those orders provided “limited protection” for the wider community.
He said it was up to individuals to take ownership of their own behaviours and police would take action, but protection of life was always their priority when being tasked to jobs.