Team’s pledge to fight crime

YOUNG criminals will be made to spruce up councilowned parks or clean up graffiti under a new plan by Team Jenny Hill to make offenders “repay their debt” to the community.

Mayor Jenny Hill (pictured), who will today release a five-point community protection policy, has taken n justice aim at system, the alg criminal saying it was not good d enough f- that young offenders g were getting off with a “slap on the e wrist” and “simply re- offending”.

It comes amid a staggering crime crisis in Townsville and wider North Queensland that has resulted in a record-breaking number of home break-ins and car thefts in February.

Under Cr Hill’s plan, the council would provide work and training for offenders through Community Service Orders, and have young criminals undertake activities such as cleaning up graffiti or parks.

But the program can’t go ahead without the State Government stepping up to provide the funding to manage and process offenders, and Cr Hill said if she was elected, with a majority of her team, the council would immediately begin lobbying the Government to get the system up and running.

“It’s extremely frustrating that ratepayers have to wear this cost, but it’s vital that we play our part in tackling the rising levels of crime,” she said.

“There’s a lot of anger and frustration in our community at the level of crime that’s occurring across our suburbs.

“Residents feel that young offenders are getting off with a slap on the wrist and simply reoffending. g It’s not good enough, an and the public’s co confidence in the la law and order syste tem is very low.”

In Queensland of offenders can alre ready be ordered to clean graffiti th through a police re referral, court or order, or youth justice confere conference agreement.

The new Team Jenny Hill “Protecting Our Community” policy includes a commitment to conduct safety audits in trouble spot suburbs to target safety issues in public areas, such as lighting, poor visibility, pathways, and black spots.

The policy also beefs-up the council’s existing programs by boosting the 300-strong 24hour CCTV camera network, a commitment to continue an information sharing agreement with police, and keeping the council’s community response vehicles, which undertake daily safety y p patrols.