LONG-TERM CHANGE IS VITAL IN CRIME FIGHT

GETTING tough on crime.

The phrase has lost all meaning. These bold new plans to tackle crime in Townsville are nothing new. Stale rehashed plans, with new buzzwords to try to trick voters into believing one is better than the other.

Long-suffering Townsvillians have heard it all before, farms, on country camps, boot camps, tough stances on crime, lock them up, don’t lock them up, and on it goes.

Promises ahead of the upcoming state election to “sort it out”, to give the city more police, to increase resources, to give officers more powers, to stop catch and release programs, are coming in thick and fast.

The bickering between the two major parties is reaching fever pitch, with the three Townsville seats and the three surrounding the city up for grabs. They know crime is the number one issue in Townsville.

They know votes will hinge on their policies on the issue.

Long-term change is needed. Short-term sugar hits will do little to help the root cause of crime.

Strong policy is needed to help children before they get into a life of crime, to stop the revolving door of children’s court if they get there and to work with them to turn their lives around if it’s too late.

And while there is no one solution to solving Townsville’s ‘crime crisis,’ you could excuse the heavy eye rolling from the community, who are living with the threat of having their home broken into, their cars stolen and their possessions taken without a second thought, all while the drums of policy change are continually beaten.

The city needs vision, a clear path to deal with the issue and a strong political leader who will be an active champion for the community when it comes to crime.

The proof will be in the pudding that hopefully won’t be stolen from your fridge.