- Police data released today shows a 1% per cent drop in overall reported offences.
- Unlawful entry offences are down nine per cent and vehicle theft offences have decreased by two per cent in the period of July 2023 to March 2024, compared to the same period in the previous year.
- Positive sign that high visibility, no nonsense policing is having an impact.
Queensland has recorded a slight decrease in the overall rate of reported crime in the latest data released by the Queensland Police Service (QPS) today.
There has been a one per cent drop in the overall reported crime rate this current financial year (FYTD) compared with the same period last year.
The reduction is attributed to collaboration across agencies on prevention, intervention and detention initiatives, as well as high visibility policing patrols and the targeted flying squad.
The rate of reported property crime offences has also decreased by one per cent (FYTD) with key offence categories including unlawful entry down nine per cent, unlawful use of a motor vehicle down two per cent and fraud down seven per cent.
Separately, Queensland Police Service last week revealed a 10.7 per cent drop in overall offences committed by young people in the first quarter of 2024, when compared to same reporting period last year.
Reported offences committed against property by youth offenders were down 7.8 per cent, from 11,163 between January and March 2023 to 10,294 between January and March 2024. This includes offences such as unlawful use of a vehicle, stealing and break and enters.
Reported offences committed against the person by youth offenders were down by 14.2 per cent in the same reporting period, from 2,107 last year to 1,807 this year. This includes offences such as robbery and assaults.
The reduction in offending in the first quarter of 2024 has helped drive a decrease in the overall rate of reported crime this financial year to date (July 2023 – March 2024), compared with the previous period (July 2022 – March 2023).
The QPS has implemented a range of policing initiatives designed to drive down criminal offending, while boosting police presence in hotspot locations.
More than 12,000 people have been arrested on 19,000 charges as part of high visibility police operation, Operation Victor Unison, since March 2023.
Taskforce Guardian, a specialist squad of detectives and Youth Justice staff, was also established targeting recidivist youth offenders with 62 deployments across the state so far. This month, the QPS also launched Operation Whiskey Legion, a major multi-level crime operation designed to reduce crime in hotspot areas with more than 400 offenders arrested on 895 charges during the first deployment in Ipswich and Logan. The recorded decrease across reporting periods is encouraging and demonstrates that back-to-basics, high visibility policing is deterring and detecting crime in Queensland communities.
The Queensland Police will continue rolling out these measures to heighten community safety and ensure a sustained decrease in criminal activity – bolstered by better resources, more police on the beat and tough laws.
The Queensland Government Statistician's Office has also released the Queensland Crime Report which compares crime data from 2021-2022 to 2022-2023 financial years.
The report highlights an increase in offences against the person and Domestic and Family Violence offences, with assault, stalking and DFV breaches all recording significant increases during the reporting period.
The report also notes higher recorded numbers of youth offenders and offences may not be an indicator of an increase in youth offending, but rather a result of increased detection given a heightened police presence.
There remains a high prevalence of Domestic and Family Violence in our community with police callouts to DFV matters also increasing during the current financial year. The State Government recently passed new laws to tackle Domestic and Family Violence, including criminalising coercive control while also implementing a raft of reforms to hold perpetrators to account and better support victims of DFV. Quotes attributable to Queensland Premier Steven Miles:
"The strong action taken by my government and the Queensland Police Service in 2024 is deterring, preventing and breaking the cycle of offending around the state.
"Promising data is now contributing to a reduction in overall crime this financial year (to date).
"We want to see this reduction continue – less unique offenders committing less crimes – and we'll be backing our Police every step of the way.
"Together with Commissioner Gollschewski, my government will deliver a comprehensive community safety plan that ensures Queenslanders feel safe, and are safe."
Quotes attributable to Police and Community Safety Minister Mark Ryan:
"We know our police are doing everything they can to reduce crime in Queensland and the latest crime statistics for this current financial year are encouraging.
"It is clear that the efforts of police through a whole raft of initiatives are making a positive impact and improving community safety.
"High visibility operations like Operation Whiskey Unison and Operation Whiskey Legion are seeing strong results.
"The Miles Labor Government is a new government, with new leadership and new ideas to drive community safety.
"Keeping Queenslanders safe will always come first and that is why we will continue supporting our police with more resources and stronger laws."
Quotes attributable to Commissioner Steve Gollschewski:
"While the preliminary overall crime rate for 2023/2024 is moving in a positive direction, we know we must continue to tackle crime from every angle.
"The QPS is focused on ensuring our community is safe and feels safe.
"Our officers are dedicated to protecting our community, targeting individuals who are causing harm and seeking justice for victims.
"Police are constantly assessing emerging crime issues and implementing a range of proactive strategies to disrupt and prevent offences occurring.
"We have seen positive results with a range of statewide operations and the community can expect to see increased police presence in hotspot locations as part of these measures."
