Parents called on to do more

SCHOOL holidays and irresponsible parents have been identified as major factors in the youth crime spree wreaking havoc across Townsville.

Townsville police district Superintendent Steve Munro said education provided an important level of supervision and engagement for children, and police frequently saw youth crime levels increase during school holidays.

He said parents of young offenders had to be responsible for their children when they weren’t at school.

“If you bring a child into the world, society expects you take some level of parental responsibility,” he said.

“The problem we are seeing is there is no acceptance of responsibility with some parents. The relentless unlawful activity of these offenders is concerning and disappointing.”

Since Friday more than 75 homes were broken into in Townsville while about 25 cars were stolen.

At times in that period property crime investigators were responding to an average of one incident each hour.

Operation Quebec Providence was launched on December 18, four days after the final day of school, with 66 people arrested on a staggering 262 charges so far. Of those arrested, 36 were juveniles. Young offenders are facing 128 charges collectively.

Member for Townsville and former school principal Scott Stewart said it was common for police to see a spike in crime when school was out.

“(We do see) increases in juvenile crime when there are school holidays, and I think we are seeing that now as well,” Mr Stewart said.

“It’s very sad to see young kids involved with this and you have to start asking questions of parents … How do we teach parents to be parents?

“We can’t just hold our breath during school holidays when the data is telling us that there are increases.

“We have to figure out why these kids are doing this and be creating diversionary programs and supporting programs for parents.”

Children as young as 10 have been charged in recent days, including for driving erratically in stolen cars.

A 12-year-old boy was charged on Tuesday after he allegedly crashed into a police van at high speed in a stolen car. The boy and a 13-year-old associate abandoned the stolen car and were found a short time later hiding out at a house.

Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington said the situation in Townsville was “simply unacceptable”.

“The issues coming out of Townsville are very distressing,” she said.

“Townsville residents have a right to feel safe on their streets … When you’ve got kids as young as 10 stealing cars, then something needs to happen.”

IF YOU BRING A CHILD INTO THE WORLD, SOCIETY EXPECTS YOU TAKE SOME LEVEL OF PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY.