Less chat and more action

ANGER about youth crime in Townsville is ready to boil over, with yet another incident of juveniles bringing the city to a grinding halt.

Late last night, a group of teenagers attempted to rob a number of people at knifepoint as they went on a car stealing spree across the city.

About 7.15pm the group of juveniles started to wreak havoc across the city, sparking a chase that ended on Flinders St after crashing a stolen car outside the

NAB branch.

The group then dragged a woman from her car, threatening her with a knife, before leading police on another pursuit.

A father and teenage daughter who themselves were threatened at knifepoint by the same youths, followed them, crashing at two different intersections in the city.

The father was furious at the state of crime in this city — and quite rightly.

“It’s a catch and release situation,” he told the Townsville Bulletin.

“Every 12 months they have another bull**** roundtable discussion.”

Many other residents share that same view and have had a gutful of youth crime in Townsville.

Last week at the Take Back Townsville Ministerial crime forum Police Minister Mark Ryan said he was working to be able to appeal light court decisions for “hard nut” youth offenders.

Mr Ryan seemed to forget it was his own government that introduced legislation in August last year that was designed to remove barriers that may contribute to children being refused bail or remaining in detention.

Townsville’s three state MPS better take notice and realise the community is well past being fed up with inaction and policies that aren’t working to address the crisis.

It was only late last year when Townsville experienced a similar situation of out-of-control youth going on carstealing sprees and putting other motorists around them at serious risk.

Residents aren’t going to continue to attend talkfests without expecting results from their elected representatives.