New data has shown a skyrocketing number of youth offenders breaching bail conditions in Queensland, proof, police claim, that tough laws are working.
Acting assistant police commissioner Andrew Massingham today revealed 1144 young people were charged with 8464 breach of bail offences in the 12 months to May.
On average, that is about seven breaches per offender.
Almost 6000 juveniles have been arrested in that same time and are serving longer periods of detention than the state has ever seen.
Massingham said the statistics showed a tough stance on breach of bail and repeat offending had worked to curb high youth offending rates, which were down by almost 11 per cent for the first quarter this year.
In some parts of the state, youth offending dropped up to 30 per cent.
“We are cautiously optimistic that we have turned a corner well and truly in this state in terms of juvenile offending,” he said at a press conference today.
“Undoubtedly taking a strong stand on breaches of bail is part of the reasoning of that result.”
Massingham said police made 69 appeals to have a juvenile remanded in custody in instances where courts have granted bail and were successful 85 per cent of the time.
He said police would continue to revoke bail where community safety is at risk or bail has already been breached.
“The power has always existed to remand those kids that pose serious harm to our community in custody,” he said.
“Where people do breach their bail continually, gives us stronger grounds now to have them remanded in custody.”
