LAST BLASTS STRIKE FARCE
Teams shy of 24/7 plan
THE crack “police 24/7 strike team” spruiked by the State Government to target hard-knock youth offenders has sensationally fizzled.
The Townsville Bulletin can reveal the “strike team” is in fact three to four added shifts per week.
Police Minister Mark Ryan made the promise in March as part of the Labor Government’s five-point plan to tackle youth crime in Townsville.
The strike teams, which officially rolled out this week, consist of a youth justice worker and police officer working together on patrols in unmarked police cars.
Mr Ryan promised the teams would be “24/7”, but the handful of additional shifts has frustrated Opposition spokesman for Northern Queensland Dale Last.
“The community has been hurt for so long … and not to get this right … is just not good enough,” he said.
A CRACK “police 24/7 strike team” spruiked by the State Government to target hardknock youth offenders has sensationally fizzled.
The Bulletin can reveal the “strike team” is in fact three to four added shifts per week.
Police Minister Mark Ryan made the promise in March as part of the Labor Government’s five-point plan to tackle youth crime in Townsville.
The strike teams, which officially rolled out this week, consist of a Youth Justice worker and police officer working together on patrols in unmarked police cars.
Mr Ryan promised the teams would be “24/7”, but the handful of additional shifts has frustrated Opposition Northern Queensland spokesman Dale Last.
“The community has been hurt for so long around this issue and for the Government not to get this right … is just not good enough,” he said.
“The task force has the potential to be a huge help in this community, and the fact that it’s now being watered down to this extent puts a question mark around that.”
The State Government announced the $10 million fivepoint plan to tackle the crime scourge after an unprecedented joint campaign by the Townsville Bulletin and Cairns Post pushed for change.
The plan included more funding for community-based crime action committees, culture-based on-country programs and tougher action on bail.
Youth Minister Di Farmer said the Government had listened to feedback from local communities and all aspects of the five-point plan were due to be up and running in July.
“These new measures are aimed at hardcore offenders and leave no doubt that the safety of the community always comes first,” she said.
The Bulletin understands the patrols will run a few days per week for on-call and patrolling workers.
Townsville District Chief Superintendent Craig Hanlon said the roster would be monitored and assessed where necessary.
LNP candidate for Townsville John Hathaway said the community would be disappointed with the “simple window dressing”.