SIX-MONTH CRIME CRACKDOWN KICKS OFF IN THE CAIRNS CBD:
PARENTS of juvenile delinquents causing havoc in the Cairns CBD have been warned to expect a late-night knock on the door by police if their children are found to be up to no good.
Police heading up a major crackdown on crime in the city said they would be picking up young offenders and troublemakers and taking them home, in an attempt to quell a recent rise in poor behaviour.
Operation Romeo Paso was officially launched last night and will run for six months.
Cairns police Acting Inspector Gary Hunter said it would be the most significant focus on CBD crime since a 2012 blitz, involving extra officers flown in from Brisbane.
“This is an emerging operation that will employ various police strategies to combat anti-social behaviour from both young people and adults in the CBD,” he said.
“We’ll be able to deploy resources tactically and at times when the behaviour is most prevalent.
“The message is clear – that anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated and people will be targeted.
“Parents: if your child is out late at night or early in the morning, expect a knock on the door.”
Multiple government and non-government agencies, including Youth Empowered Towards Independence, and youth justice, education and child protection government departments, have assembled a specialist taskforce which will work with police.
Acting Insp Hunter said they had also been liaising with business owners around the CBD.
“We’ve heard their concerns and they have welcomed our response,” he said.