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Taskforce Guardian has exceeded its 100^th deployment to regions across Queensland, targeting youth offending through disruption, investigative and engagement strategies.

Three simultaneous deployments to Cairns, Mount Isa and Brisbane’s southside commenced on October 7 and wrap up operations today, marking the 100^th, 101^stand 102^nd deployments since the Taskforce commenced in May 2023.

Over the course of 102 deployments to date, 2093 young people have been charged with 6167 offences and 980 young people have been engaged and diverted from the youth justice system.

Police have also charged 252 adults with 565 offences as a result of Taskforce Guardian operations.

Taskforce Guardian brings together specialist police and expert youth justice officers, who deploy to districts across Queensland to work alongside local police.

Together conducting strategic activities aimed at reducing youth offending and enhancing community safety, through co-ordinated intelligence driven patrols, targeted investigations, and joint operations including bail compliance support along with community and family engagement.

The Taskforce also works with key support services and local resources to engage at-risk youth with relevant programs and agencies, focusing on health, education, disability services and cultural initiatives.

Queensland Police Service (QPS) Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said the initiative has been a successful strategy to support local police efforts to disrupt youth crime.

“Our frontline police are dedicated to protecting their communities, working around the clock to keep the community safe and help them feel safe,” Commissioner Gollschewski said.

“The injection of personnel from Taskforce Guardian and our youth justice colleagues, alongside local police, enables a dedicated focus on combatting youth crime and diverting young offenders.

“I applaud our officers and youth justice workers both locally and in the Taskforce, for all their work across more than 100 deployments.”

QPS Youth Crime Taskforce Acting Assistant Commissioner Andrew Massingham said that while cleared offences actioned against young people are reducing, police are committed to continuing relentless efforts in protecting the public.

“Between January and September 2024 we have recorded a 6.3 per cent decline in reported offences actioned against juvenile offenders statewide, compared to the same period in 2023,” Acting Assistant Commissioner Massingham said.

“Notably, reported unlawful use of a motor vehicle offences actioned against youth declined by more than 10 per cent and robbery offences by more than 14 per cent.

“While this is a small step, it’s an encouraging one, indicating to us that initiatives like Taskforce Guardian along with the Youth Co-Responder Team, Project Booyah, PCYC youth programs and more are beginning to have an impact.

“We want to reassure the community that this is just the beginning, police will continue efforts to reduce youth offending through a series of initiatives alongside our partner agencies tackling the issue from every angle.”

*Deployment locations are chosen based on operational requirements at the time, intelligence, data and advice from local police.