Thousands of Queensland Youths Arrested in Year-Long Crackdown

Queensland Police patrol in Coolangatta, Australia, on Aug. 20, 2021. Chris Hyde/Getty Images

More than 4,000 children have been arrested and hit with nearly 8000 charges in Queensland during the past 12 months in a crack down on crime.

Operation Whiskey Unison was launched by Queensland Police in March 2023 to prevent and disrupt youth crime in the state.

The results of the operation were 11,023 people arrested on 17,791 charges, including drug, weapons, traffic, property crime and bail offences.

Of the total group of offenders, 4,149 are children facing 7,551 charges.

‘We know this is just the beginning of what will be a long road of persistent efforts,” Acting Assistant Commissioner Andrew Massingham told reporters on March 10.

Brisbane, Logan, Gold Coast and far north Queensland recorded the majority of arrests in the past year.

There were more than 2,500 arrests of children and adults in Brisbane, 1,500 in Logan, 1,200 on the Gold Coast and 1100 in far north Queensland.

Mr. Massingham noted in the six months to January 2024, the rate of offending had declined.

More than 160,000 activities have been carried out by police across the state including hotspot patrols, shopping centre and business walk-throughs, bail compliance checks and service station drop ins.

“We know when the community sees blue uniforms, they know they can feel safe,” Premier Steven Miles said March 11.

The police operation carried a visibility approach with more officers out and about to disrupt offenders in high crime locations.

“We know with high visibility patrols comes greater presence in the community, greater engagement with the community and greater safety for the community,” Police Minister Mark Ryan said.

Shopping centres, business, retail, residential and restaurant areas and service stations have been the focus of the operation.

The new arrest data comes amid reports of a staffing crisis in the police force, particularly on the Gold Coast, which new Acting Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski has pledged to address.

“I met with the new acting police commissioner last week and he talks specifically about efforts going towards rebuilding morale on the Gold Coast,'' Mr. Miles said.

“I have confidence in his ability to do that and that will translate into a lower attrition rate.”

Opposition leader David Crisafulli said the government should focus on recruitment numbers.

“Despite the recruits, more experienced police are walking out the door then the recruits are coming in,” he told reporters on March 11.