North Brisbane Police District (NBD) will see a swarm of police in the area as Operation Whiskey Legion (OWL) commences its 10-day deployment from today.
The major multi-level operation aimed at reducing crime across Queensland communities has seen positive results in six districts since it commenced on April 2.
Acting Assistant Commissioner of Crime and Intelligence Command (CIC), Denzil Clark, said throughout the operation, police have conducted more than 1,444 hot spot patrols, over 974 wanding operations and in excess of 364 bail/curfew compliance checks.
“The NBD deployment will build on the significant results the state-wide operation has already seen across its previous six deployments.
“OWL has resulted in more than 1,380 adults charged with 3,126 offences and 290 juveniles charged with more than 836 offences in the past three months across Queensland.
“The surge capacity has also allowed police to engage with and support more than 2,606 victims of crime which is an important element of this operation.”
OWL has seen specialist police from Highway Patrol, CIC, Railway Squad, Water Police, Dog Squad and Crime Prevention supporting frontline officers working together to prevent crime and take strong action against high-risk crime and serious repeat offenders.
Brisbane Region Assistant Commissioner, Ben Marcus, said the extra resources in Legion will enhance local enforcement capabilities to reduce crime and strengthen community safety.
“NBD’s deployment will target the unique issues here including public safety at transport hubs and shopping centres, the movements of offenders looking to steal motor vehicles and enter homes, domestic violence offenders breaching orders and investigative targeting of high-risk offenders,” Assistant Commissioner Marcus said.
“With the support from centralised areas of the Queensland Police Service, including CIC investigators, Rapid Action and Patrols (RAP), road policing, water police, mounted unit and the dog squad we will be able to deploy quickly into targeted hot spots.”
NBD Acting Chief Superintendent Simon Tayler said the NBD deployment is seeking community assistance and involvement in the operation to help make the most of the additional resources available.
“We are always looking for ways to do things differently so that we can reduce and prevent crime, better support victims, and catch offenders,” Acting Chief Superintendent Tayler said.
“The public can help by being extra vigilant during this time. Whilst we have these operational activities running, we are asking the community to ensure it’s harder for thieves to make entry to homes and harder to get hold of the keys to a motor vehicle.
“We know that when thieves can’t easily get their hands on a set of car keys, they move on and try elsewhere. Lock up, put your car keys away out of sight and report suspicious behaviour quickly.
“We have seen Legion’s success in other districts and look forward to seeing what we will achieve throughout the NBD over the next ten days.”
If you have information for police, contact Policelink by providing information using the online suspicious activity form 24hrs per day at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting or call 131 444.
Report crime information anonymously via Crime Stoppers. Call 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestoppersqld.com.au.
