Taskforce Guardian continues to see positive results following deployments in the Toowoomba and Ipswich areas.
Specialist police investigators and expert youth justice workers joined local police across both districts to address youth offending and provide engagement support.
The Taskforce completed its eighth deployment to the Toowoomba, Cherbourg and Murgon areas between June 7 and June 14, where 37 young people were arrested on 75 offences along with one adult on one offence, with 32 young people diverted from the youth justice system.
A simultaneous deployment in the Ipswich district saw 26 young people charged on 62 offences and two adults on two offences between June 4 and June 14, with nine young people diverted from the youth justice system.
The results from this latest activity demonstrate the Taskforce’s ongoing success in working collaboratively with local police, Youth Justice, partner agencies and local support services to target repeat offenders, steer other young people away from offending behaviours and connect caregivers to support services.
Since Taskforce Guardian launched in May last year, 1,386 young people have been arrested on a total of 4,392 offences and 568 young people have been diverted from the youth justice system.
Detective Senior Sergeant Joe Nixon said Taskforce Guardian’s youth engagement efforts across communities including Cherbourg and Murgon are the culmination of extensive collaboration with local stakeholders, community groups and Council.
“I would like to thank the Cherbourg and Murgon communities, along with stakeholders in Ipswich and Toowoomba, for working so closely with us,” Detective Senior Sergeant Nixon said.
“Community engagement is a priority for Taskforce Guardian, as we work to not just locate young offenders, but prevent future offending and ensure each individual child is given tailored support and referrals that give them the best chances of breaking the cycle.
“Taskforce Guardian continues to support our districts with investigative action, patrols, bail checks and engagement activities.
“Young people know we’re out there; we are deploying regularly and consistently right across the state and taking action to protect the public, divert at-risk young people and provide support where it’s needed most.”
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