Community & Business
15 April, 2021
Cynthia Lui backs collaborative approach to combat juvenile crime
COOK MP Cynthia Lui has again heard from fed up locals who have drawn a line in the sand and called for juvenile and youth led crime issues in Mareeba and the wider Tablelands to be immediately addressed.
By Michael Warren
COOK MP Cynthia Lui has again heard from fed up locals who have drawn a line in the sand and called for juvenile and youth led crime issues in Mareeba and the wider Tablelands to be immediately addressed.
During a short visit to Mareeba from her pop-up office Ms Lui again cited the State Government’s five-point plan and a joint effort by stakeholders as key measures to manage the controversial issue. The five-point plan includes making sure high-risk offenders do not receive bail and Police appealing decisions where needed.
A 24/7 Police strike team involving youth justice workers for high-risk offenders, culture-based rehabilitation and empowering local communities in the war on crime round out the Government’s five-point plan.
Other potential solutions identified by Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers to combat and prevent youth crime includes GPS tracking devices on juveniles, working with indigenous elders and co-response patrols with police and youth justice workers.
“We need to approach this from a holistic perspective, there is not one specific answer or way to stem juvenile crime,” Ms Lui said.
“It takes people from different organisations like housing, domestic violence, schools, education and health reaching out to vulnerable families to engage them, to address areas of concern.
“Juvenile or youth crime is not limited to just Mareeba or The Tablelands, it’s a whole of society problem.”
The region has been rocked in recent months by a series of crimes that reverberated right across Mareeba and the Tablelands.
Most notably, in January, a juvenile from The Tablelands allegedly stole four cars within a 24-hour period and was arrested three times in ten days.
