Sunshine Coast police are doubling down on efforts to enhance community safety with the launch of the new local Youth Co-Responder Team and a centralised Youth Engagement Hub to help co-ordinate early intervention efforts to break the cycle of youth crime.
The Sunshine Coast Youth Co-Responder Team (YCRT) will have seven positions – three police officers, three youth justice officers and a Police Liaison Officer (PLO).
The YCRT initiative is a joint program between the Queensland Police Service and Department of Youth Justice, where a dedicated crew of a police officer and a youth justice officer together engage young people who come into contact with the criminal justice system or are at risk of doing so.
The team will work towards proactively de-escalating and problem solving where groups congregate, transporting young people to safety, connecting young people and their caregiver with support services, and exploring diversionary pathways.
The Sunshine Coast YCRT is the 14th to launch across Queensland, with a 15th expected to launch in the South West police district in the coming months.
The team will be based in the Youth Engagement Hub at the Maroochydore Police Station alongside School Based Police Officers and School Support Officers and neighbouring the Child Protection Investigation Unit.
The hub aims to centralise the teams focused on early-intervention and prevention, to co-ordinate efforts to divert young people from the youth justice system and engage young people in education and employment.
School Support Officers will work with local schools to deliver programs, presentations and assistance with school activities, with a focus on engaging with primary school aged children.
Their work will be centred around supporting vulnerable children and their families, to maintain engagement in school or to integrate them back into school.
Sunshine Coast District Officer Superintendent Craig Hawkins said the Youth Engagement Hub takes a holistic approach, targeting young people who may be just starting down the path towards offending behaviour.
“The Hub houses resources that will work to address the root causes of youth crime in a sustainable and holistic way,” Superintendent Hawkins said.
“We have specialist officers dedicated to targeting the recidivist offending that causes harm in our communities, and now this hub will boost our capabilities in diverting young people before they begin to offend.
“The YCRT and Youth Engagement Hub go beyond just the child, by providing support to their caregivers, school and communities to intervene early and help them stay on the right path.”
Sunshine Coast District Detective Inspector Chris Toohey said the hub has been tailor-made for our community.
“Our Youth Co-Responder team will focus on the unique needs of the Sunshine Coast – unlike anywhere else, our YCRT police will all be detectives,” Detective Inspector Toohey said.
“While they won’t be investigating crimes, the specialist skillset that a detective with experience in the Child Protection and Investigation Unit brings to the team will be key in de-escalating, engaging and strategically supporting the unique needs of the young people here on the Coast.
“We look forward to working closely with the Department of Youth Justice, Education Queensland and our community organisations and services through our Youth Engagement Hub roles, to best support a safer Sunshine Coast.”
