Rapid response team Taskforce Guardian continues to play an integral role in bolstering the police response to youth crime across Queensland, completing more than 50 deployments across Queensland since it launched in May 2023.
‘On Patrol’, a new series that delves into the how frontline police are tackling youth offending, goes behind the scenes on a deployment to Cairns last year which targeted juvenile recidivist offenders actively committing property crime and bail offences.
The deployment resulted in 64 people arrested on 170 charges, including 49 young people on 141 charges, with specialist investigators finalising 128 ongoing investigations during their October stint.
Taskforce Guardian has now deployed to Cairns on several occasions, partnering with Cairns police to strategically co-ordinate high-visibility patrols of crime hotspots during peak periods, with a focus on engaging with recidivist and emerging youth offenders to address anti-social and criminal behaviour.
The Taskforce, which consists of Queensland Police Service investigative officers and expert Youth Justice workers, is deployed across the state as part of the QPS flying squad model. The borderless nature allows the Taskforce to deploy at any time, where support is most needed.
The team also works with key support services and local resources to engage at-risk youth with relevant change-oriented programs focusing on health, education, disability services and First Nations initiatives.
To date, Taskforce Guardian has arrested more than 1100 offenders on almost 3500 charges throughout Queensland.
Detective Acting Sergeant Gretta Wilson from Taskforce Guardian expressed the importance of both the enforcement side of policing and positive engagement.
“We engaged with a large number of juveniles in the community, both on a corrective and positive level,” she said.
“It’s about letting young offenders know that we’re here, we see them and there are consequences to their actions.
“We’re also here to help them tackle their social issues that are pushing them into offending.
