Police taskforce charges 54 Cairns youths with 220 offences in week-long youth crime crackdown

More than 50 young people have been charged with 220 crimes following a week-long crackdown on youth crime in a major regional city.”

Taskforce Guardian worked with Cairns Police on a week-long operation between November 5 and 12 to disrupt, prevent and investigate youth crime in the area.

This resulted in 54 young people being charged with 220 offences, as well as one adult being charged with a single offence.

As part of the operation, four boys aged 14-17 years were arrested about 7.45am on Saturday November 9 in Manoora, after running from a Kia Rio allegedly stolen that morning from the neighbouring suburb of Whitfield.

The teenage boys were charged with 12 property crime offences, including unlawful use of a motor vehicle and obstructing police.

The week-long Cairns operation also resulted in 28 young people being diverted from the youth justice system, engaging them with relevant programs and agencies to reduce recidivism.

This operation marks the Taskforce’s 11th deployment to the region since its commencement in May 2023.

Youth crime in Queensland was a key policy for the new Crisafulli LNP government during the October election campaign.

Newly elected Premier David Crisafulli committed to his promise to the voters that he would deliver tougher justice laws by Christmas.