Logan City has seen nine deployments of the state-wide specialist police operation known as Taskforce Guardian since May 2023.
During the taskforce’s operations since then, 168 local young people have been charged with 445 offences.
Fourteen adults have been charged with 37 offences.
Queensland Police Service (QPS) Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said the initiative was proven to be a “successful strategy” to support the efforts of local police to reduce youth crime.
“Our frontline police are dedicated to protecting their communities, working around the clock to keep the community safe and help them feel safe,” Commissioner Gollschewski said.
“The injection of personnel from Taskforce Guardian and our youth justice colleagues, alongside local police, enables a dedicated focus on combatting youth crime and diverting young offenders.
“I applaud our officers and youth justice workers both locally and in the Taskforce, for all their work across more than 100 deployments.”
QPS Youth Crime Taskforce Acting Assistant Commissioner Andrew Massingham said that while cleared offences actioned against young people are reducing, police were committed to “continuing relentless efforts in protecting the public”.
“Between January and September 2024 we have recorded a 6.3 per cent decline in reported offences actioned against juvenile offenders statewide, compared to the same period in 2023,” Acting Assistant Commissioner Massingham said.
“Notably, reported unlawful use of a motor vehicle offences actioned against youth declined by more than 10 per cent and robbery offences by more than 14 per cent.
“While this is a small step, it’s an encouraging one, indicating to us that initiatives like Taskforce Guardian along with the Youth Co-Responder Team, Project Booyah, PCYC youth programs and more are beginning to have an impact.
“We want to reassure the community that this is just the beginning, police will continue efforts to reduce youth offending through a series of initiatives alongside our partner agencies tackling the issue from every angle.”
