A dedicated police taskforce targeting high-risk youth offenders has made more than 1,000 arrests since its launch in May 2023, following more than 50 deployments across Queensland.
Taskforce Guardian has now arrested 1,114 people on 3,465 charges, including nearly 1,000 young offenders facing over 3,000 offences and more than 140 adults on over 300 charges.
The taskforce recently wrapped up operations in Townsville, Cairns, and South Brisbane, continuing its strategy of flooding problem areas with resources to tackle youth crime.
During its latest deployment in Cairns from February 19 to 25, officers arrested 46 people on 118 offences, including 43 young offenders facing 102 charges and three adults on 16 charges. This marked the sixth deployment to the region.
In Brisbane’s south, police targeted repeat property offenders, arresting four young people on 16 charges and assisting South Brisbane District officers with a further 93 offences between February 12 and 23. Three adults were also arrested on 15 charges during the operation.
A two-month deployment in Townsville from January 3 to February 25 resulted in almost 140 arrests on 412 charges. Of those, 128 were young offenders facing 385 charges, with most offences related to property crime and bail breaches. Twelve adults were also arrested on 27 charges.
Taskforce Guardian is made up of specialist investigators from the Queensland Police Service and expert Youth Justice workers. The team works alongside local officers to disrupt, investigate, and prevent youth offending while also connecting at-risk youth with support services, including health, education, disability programs, and First Nations initiatives.
Police Minister Mark Ryan said the taskforce’s combined expertise with local police was allowing authorities to saturate crime hotspots and target repeat offenders while also working to divert young people from crime.
“These efforts to address youth crime are continuing at full force,” he said. “We can assure all Queenslanders that their safety will always be the priority.”
