Officers from the State Flying Squad alongside officers from the Far North District have charged 65 people with 249 offences during a 5-day deployment to Cairns.
Between January 20 and 24, the State Flying Squad joined Cairns General Duties police, officers from the Cairns Property Crime Unit, Far North District Tactical Crime Squad, Tablelands units and Cairns Child Protection and Investigation Unit conducted strategic activities to disrupt, prevent, and investigate offending in the region.
On January 23, four teenage boys were charged in relation to an alleged armed robbery in Manunda on January 15.
It will be alleged the boys approached a 15-year-old boy at the intersection of Anderson and Pease Street, before punching the boy multiple times, threatening him with a hammer, before stealing his bike.
A 16-year-old Manunda boy was charged with three counts of armed robbery with violence, two counts of deprivation of liberty and one count of common assault.
A 15-year-old Manunda boy was charged with three counts of armed robbery with violence, two counts of deprivation of liberty, and one count of common assault.
A 15-year-old Westcourt boy was charged with six counts of armed robbery with violence, three counts of attempted armed robbery, two counts of deprivation of liberty, and one count each of common assault and stealing.
All three boys were refused bail and are due to appear in the Cairns Childrens Court today, January 24.
An 11-year-old Manunda boy was charged with one count of armed robbery with violence.
He was dealt with under provisions of the Youth Justice Act.
Superintendent Mick Searle said the State Flying Squad is a valuable addition to the good work already being done by local police on the ground.
"Having a surge capacity to assist our local officers is of huge benefit to the region, to allow us to disrupt offending," Superintendent Searle said.
"Our priority is keeping the community safe, and we will continue to target those offenders causing harm."
If you have information for police, contact Policelink by providing information using the online suspicious activity form 24hrs per day at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting.
Report crime information anonymously via Crime Stoppers. Call 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestoppersqld.com.au.