Taskforce Guardian alongside local police have charged 78 people on 177 offences and diverted 32 young people from the youth justice system, during three simultaneous deployments across Queensland.
A joint initiative by Queensland Police Service (QPS) and the Department of Youth Justice, Taskforce Guardian brings together specialist police officers with expert youth justice officers.
Together, Taskforce Guardian deploys to high-risk areas and works alongside local police to finalise open investigations, target high-risk offending, conduct high-visibility patrols of hotspots, conduct bail compliance support and engagements with young people and their caregivers.
During a deployment to the South Brisbane district between 17 June and 12 July three adults were charged with eight offences, 39 young people were charged with 90 offences and 18 young people were diverted away from the youth justice system.
Between 4 July and 12 July, during a Taskforce Guardian deployment to Townsville two adults were charged with five offences, 17 young people were charged in relation to 30 offences and six young people were diverted from the youth justice system.
Meanwhile in Mt Isa, between 5 July and 12 July, Taskforce Guardian charged 17 young people with 44 offences and eight young people were diverted from the youth justice system.
The borderless nature of Taskforce Guardian allows rapid response teams to deploy at any time, where support is needed most across the state.
Police work alongside expert Youth Justice workers to foster a positive rapport with young people, connecting them with key support services, local resources, and relevant change-oriented programs focusing on health, education, employment, housing, disability and health services and cultural or First Nations initiatives.
Since Taskforce Guardian commenced operations in May 2023, there have been 85 deployments to hotspot locations across Queensland.
In total 200 adults have been charged with 453 offences and 1540 young people have been charged with 4710 offences, with 636 young people diverted from the youth justice system.
Youth Crime Taskforce Acting Assistant Commissioner Andrew Massingham said Taskforce Guardian is just one of a variety of initiatives working to address and prevent youth offending.
"Keeping our communities safe is at the core of all we do," Acting Assistant Commissioner Massingham said.
"Taskforce Guardian has proven an incredible resource when a surge in youth offending is recorded, as we can immediately boost resourcing, target high-risk offending and intervene with young people just starting down the path of crime.
"But beyond these deployments dedicated officers are working day and night across the State on the frontline, in the Youth Co-Responder Teams, PCYCs, Project Booyah, leading youth programs, the Intensive Bail Programs, during Operation Whiskey Unison and Operation Whiskey Legion, within DICE intelligence teams and on multi-agency collaborative panels.
"Alongside our partner agencies, QPS has strategies tackling youth offending from every angle and we are committed to continuing efforts to protect the public."
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 or call 131 444.
Report crime information anonymously via Crime Stoppers. Call 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestoppersqld.com.au.
