‘We’re scared in our home’
CROWD RALLIES TO DEMAND URGENT GOVERNMENT ACTION ON CRIME
A CAIRNS resident has described how terrified she and her retirement village neighbours are due to a constant wave of youngsters attempting – and sometimes succeeding – to break in.
Sylvia Carswell, 78, said she attended Friday’s rally hosted by the Crime and Justice Action Group on Spence St because “older people shouldn't be scared, we should not be afraid to go to sleep at night in (our) own home”.
Mrs Carswell was one of about 40 people at the rally, which was held outside the office of the Member for Cairns, Michael Healy.
She said her retirement village, which she declined to name, had suffered a constant barrage of theft.
“My back neighbour has been broken into 16 times in the last six months,” she said.
“We older people should not be frightened of dozing during the middle of the day.
“And my neighbours have been broken into. One lost her car and phone – she found someone in her home during the day and she was shaking. Another neighbour had an intruder at 8pm while she was watching TV.”
Mrs Carswell said she and her neighbours had contacted police many times and had nothing but praise for them.
“The police have been wonderful,” she said.
“They told us to lock up everything we have, but now these people are pulling down our louvres to get in.”
Rally organiser and Crime and Justice Action Group leader Aaron McLeod said the Cairns community was demanding the state government find genuine solutions.
“The Queensland Labor government has failed to take accountability for a failed youth justice system,” he said.
“This crime wave is wreaking havoc on our community and the young boy who died on Monday is as much a victim as the person who’s car was (allegedly) stolen or the driver who has since been charged with his death.”
Rally MC Alan Benn said unless the youth crime crisis was addressed, there would be more tragedies ahead.
“The kids committing these crimes need to understand love, respect and responsibility,” he said.
“And the current Youth Justice Act needs to be rewritten from top to bottom, because if this legislation worked, then we would not be here protesting on the footpath.”
Rally attendees were critical of Mr Healy’s absence, but he had earlier denied he was avoiding controversy by not attending due to work.
“My days are organised two to three weeks ahead,” he said.
“But if Mr McLeod wants to meet with me, I would welcome him getting in touch so we can sit down and talk.”