Toowoomba based victim advocates, and community, business and government representatives will gather next week for a roundtable with Police Minister Mark Ryan and Commissioner Katarina Carroll.
The roundtable, hosted by the Safer Toowoomba Regional Partnerships, will provide a forum for continue discussions on strategies to support community safety in Toowoomba.
Victims of crime from Toowoomba will also be invited to attend the event.
The roundtable follows a Community Safety Forum in February which lead to a range of additional and enhanced policing and local strategies to address youth and property crime concerns in Toowoomba.
The roundtable will enable the continual development of future strategies to be developed through the Safer Toowoomba Regional Partnerships.
The Queensland Police Service and Queensland Government continues to provide significant investment in boosting local youth crime intervention programs and safety initiatives to address crime issues in Toowoomba including:
- commencing the Police Youth Co-Responder initiative in Toowoomba;
- launching the award-winning QPS youth program, Project Booyah in Toowoomba;
- investing $1 million to upgrade Toowoomba PCYC;
- enhancing police patrols through Operation Victor Unison, an extreme high visibility policing operation with over 9,400 proactive activities conducted;
- deploying PolAir to the region to support policing operations;
- launching the Toowoomba Community Camera Alliance;
- conducting a police blitz on bail compliance and curfew check regime for young offenders on bail;
- funding 17 programs through the Toowoomba Community Based Crime Action Committee since 2020;
- expanding multi-agency collaborative panel work to case manage serious repeat offenders with relevant government agencies; and
- expanding intensive case management of young offenders and their families to Toowoomba.
Quotes attributable to Police Minister Mark Ryan:
"Police and the government will never relent in doing everything possible to support community safety.
"The government is making record investments in police and a range of programs to break the cycle of offending.
"The feedback I am getting from police is that the Extreme High Visibility Police Patrols are having a real impact in the community, disrupting and preventing criminal behaviour.
"Police also advise that the feedback they are getting from local communities is that seeing more police out in the community more often is reassuring and well received."
Quotes attributable to Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll:
"We know that being a victim of crime can be life-changing and it can really impact people on many levels. That is why the QPS has switched its focus to ensure that we are always taking a victim-centric approach to our work."
"We made a commitment to the people of Toowoomba at the community forum that their concerns around crime would be heard and addressed and we have seen a whole raft of local initiatives implemented this year.
"I'm very pleased with the progress in policing strategies and the community partnerships that are making headway in addressing issues in the area."
Quotes attributable to Toowoomba Region Mayor Geoff McDonald:
"Council welcomes the opportunity for victims of crime and community organisations to raise their concerns and speak directly with senior Police, including Commissioner Katarina Carroll, and Police Minister Mark Ryan.
"The establishment of the Co-Responder Youth Teams is a welcome initiative that offers confidence to the community that effective work is happening on the ground.
Similarly, the introduction of Project Booyah in Toowoomba early next year will help engage young people in meaningful activities.
"We are fortunate to have the resources and skills of the members on Safer Toowoomba Regional Partnerships. This community input will be an important feature of ongoing collaboration with the Queensland Government."
Quotes attributable to Darling Downs District Officer Superintendent Doug McDonald:
"While even one instance of criminal offending is one too many, I'm encouraged by the progress we are making in Toowoomba through the various strategies we have put in place with partner agencies and by working closely with the community.
"This roundtable will help us continue to build on the significant work that has been done to address local challenges.
"I'm very grateful for the ongoing commitment of members of the Safer Toowoomba Regional Partnerships which will help drive future partnership initiatives to keep our community safe."
