- More than 2,700 youth offenders arrested on more than 5,000 charges as part of major high visibility police operation.
- Almost 5,000 adult offenders charged with more than 7,500 offences.
- More than 42,000 people stopped and engaged with by police during patrols.
More than 2,700 young people have been arrested in relation to more than 5,000 offences as part of a high visibility policing operation across Queensland in the past eight months.
Queensland Police Service's Operation Victor Unison has exceeded 7,600 arrests in total across the state so far, during extreme high-visibility patrols and engagement aimed at enhancing community safety in known crime hotspots.
Commencing on March 1, Operation Victor Unison focuses on preventing, disrupting, and investigating youth crime across Queensland at targeted intelligence driven locations including shopping centres, business and retail precincts, public spaces and residential areas.
The extreme high-visibility patrols allow police to engage with young people, conduct bail checks, deter anti-social and criminal behaviour and boost community safety.
In Townsville, 412 young people have been arrested on 524 charges, while police have engaged with a further 3265 people while out on patrols.
Patrols under Operation Victor Unison are in addition to the co-ordinated day-to-day police operations and patrols conducted by local frontline police.
The operation has seen more than 42,000 hours committed to proactive patrols across Queensland since March 1, which allowed officers to stop and engage with 42,366 people.
The 'boots on the ground approach' involves vehicle and foot patrols and is supported by additional units including Highway Patrol, Child Protection and Investigation Unit, Criminal Investigation Branch and Mounted Unit.
Quotes attributable to Police Minister Mark Ryan:
"These results show that Operation Victor Unison is working, supported by some of the toughest youth justice laws in the nation, with more than 2,700 young offenders arrested and 41,000 people engaged with and potentially deterred from committing offences."
"We are tackling youth crime from every angle – from prevention and early intervention to targeting serious repeat offenders."
"Youth crime has no quick fix, but the priority remains keeping Queenslanders safe and this operation is putting police where they need to be and when to take prompt action and deter anti-social and criminal behaviour."
Quotes attributable to Acting Commissioner Tracy Linford:
"The results from this operation are a clear example of the commitment of frontline police in ensuring the safety of communities.
"This operation has included more than 41,500 hours of police patrols so far, on top of the day-to-day dedicated police work and patrols conducted by frontline officers.
"These patrols are also allowing police to engage with community and businesses about issues affecting them and take early action to ensure public safety.
"Our officers are committed to continuing this crucial work as part of Operation Victor Unison."
Quotes attributable to Mundingburra MP Les Walker:
"Having this high visibility operation running in Townsville is making a real difference to community safety and we'll continue to make sure those that do the wrong thing are caught and held to account." Quotes attributable to Townsville MP Scott Stewart:
"We will never back down as a government to tackle the causes of youth crime along with backing the police though operations like this to ensure we tackle this issue from every angle." Quotes attributable to Thuringowa MP Aaron Harper:
"There is no single solution to youth crime but operation Victor Unison is making a difference in Townsville and ensuring those that commit are brought before the courts.
"We have an opportunity to do more which is why we've established the Youth Justice Reform Committee which I'm part of which will allow people to have their say on this issue."
