The Queensland government has announced it will allocate 32.4 million dollars, over five years, to expand its youth crime rapid response unit, adding 41 officers to the State Flying Squad.
The funding, announced a month after the introduction of tougher youth justice laws, triples the capacity of Taskforce Guardian, the Queensland Police’s key youth crime initiative.
Premier David Crisafulli emphasised the enhanced capacity of the squad, emphasising the objective of rapid response when it comes to policing crime hotspots.
The controversial “adult crime, adult time” laws, passed in December, increase jail sentences for serious youth offenders, including life sentences for children as young as 10, convicted of severe crimes.
An Office of the Public Guardian report tabled last week, revealed a 50 per cent increase in children aged 13 years or younger, being held in adult watch houses, over the past year.