News
10 August, 2024
QLD crime rates drop amid surge in DV stats
The latest Queensland Police Service crime statistics reveal a decrease in overall offence rates, with significant improvements in youth crime.
Youth offences dropped by nearly 7 per cent in the 2023/24 financial year, and the number of unique youth offenders decreased by 2 per cent from the previous year, and 18 per cent since 2012/13.
However, despite these reductions, domestic violence continues to impact crime rates, now comprising over 50 per cent of assault offences.
This is up from 24.4 per cent in 2019-2020. Premier Steven Miles emphasised the importance of community safety, highlighting increased resources and police presence.
“I have always said we will invest in what we know works, which is why I have delivered more resources, more police on the beat and more early intervention across Queensland,” he said.
Police Minister Mark Ryan said any instance of crime is “totally unacceptable”.
“For every crime there is a victim and the impact can be traumatising,” he said.
Mr Ryan praised the police’s use of ‘surge’ operations like Operation Whiskey Legion, which targeted high-harm crime hotspots across seven districts, including Moreton Bay where 194 officers were deployed.
Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski acknowledged the growing impact of domestic violence and pledged continued adaptation of strategies to tackle high-harm offending.
“We will continue to target high harm offending through specific deployments such as Operation Whiskey Legion and Taskforce Guardian,” he said
