More than 20 young people in the Darling Downs area have been charged during a special holiday crackdown to combat youth offending. Operation Theta commenced on December 19, 2022 to proactively tackle youth offending during the busy school holiday period.
In the first two weeks of the operation, Darling Downs District officers conducted 665 proactive activities, including a high visibility police presence in hotspot youth crime locations, shopping centre and business walkthroughs.
The special operation, which has been rolled out across the Darling Downs, Mt Isa, North, Far North and Brisbane police districts has to date seen action taken against 340 juveniles in relation to 870 offences.
In the Darling Downs District alone, 27 juveniles have been charged with 71 offences, while a further 33 adults have been charged with 138 offences. Darling Downs District Superintendent Douglas McDonald said engagement activities with young people and an expansion of the Youth Crime Co-responder and bail check programs have worked well in the District.
“Youth offending traditionally increases over school holiday breaks,” Superintendent McDonald said.
“We do see more young people out and about, congregating in groups and less parental supervision during the summer holiday period.
“Youth offending is a challenging, complex issue impacted by underlying factors such as social dysfunction, substance abuse, domestic violence, family dynamics and dysfunction and access to social services and support.
“The majority of juvenile offenders do not re-offend once they have initial contact with the justice system.
“Intervention and rehabilitation for young offenders are crucial in breaking the cycle of crime and delivering long-term change.”
The QPS has allocated over 2200 additional shifts during the busy school holiday to conduct this high-visibility operation, ensuring there are extra boots on the ground and on patrol.
Areas of interest for police as part of Operation Theta include shopping centres, parks and areas where young people are known to frequent.
Of the first 27 juveniles charges since the operation commenced in the Darling Downs, 14 were charged with 43 indictable offences, including unlawful use of a motor vehicle and enter with intent.
One juvenile was charged with three offences, including shop stealing (under $150 and first-time offence) or trespassing by breaching a banning order.
A further four juveniles have been charged with seven weapons offences which include possession of firearm and knives.
Six adults were charged with 19 traffic offences, five adults charged with 17 drug offences and 13 adults charged 55 other indictable offences which include unlawful use of a motor vehicle and enter with intent charges.
Operation Theta is due to wrap up at the end of January.
This article appeared in On Our Selection News, 19 January 2023.
