KID CRIMS ESCALATE ISSUE FOR POLICE

There’s real problems with the youth crime crisis in Townsville when juveniles roaming the streets in stolen cars don’t fear police. Last week a stolen car, with multiple youths inside, drove up beside a police vehicle skylarking and all the police could do, because of the no chase policy, was watch on.

It’s a sign of how brazen the youth criminals are getting but what happened over the last couple of days has taken things to a dangerous new level.

The offenders are now actually targeting police, bricks thrown at officers and police cars intentionally rammed.

Acting Superintendent Chris Lawson said it was lucky no officers were seriously injured.

“At the moment we’ve had five police vehicles damaged, and of major concern to us was one of the vehicles was the youth co-responder vehicle, which doesn’t just house police, but also has a member of youth justice.”

But it’s not just the loss of expensive resources. It’s getting more likely an officer will be seriously hurt.

Katter MP Nick Dametto said what police endured over the Sunday night/ Monday morning period was a “shocking” escalation in violence.

How much worse can it ... g et?

He is concerned if more isn’t done to curb the youth justice problem, community anger will boil over and vigilantism will rise.

We have already seen vigilantes in Townsville and it’s something the city does not need.

But police also need to have more power to apprehend kids in stolen cars.

Mr Dametto says the anti-pursuit policy is to blame for the actions of criminals.

They know they can do what they want because police will not give chase.

It’s a big call, police stopped getting involved in chases due to the dangers it posed to the general public.

The problem now is, how much worse can it actually get?