Taskforce Guardian has teamed up with a new community safety pilot during their latest deployment to Rockhampton, strengthening community safety from all angles.
Between March 11 and March 19, surge response team Taskforce Guardian was deployed to Rockhampton to target youth offending and anti-social behaviour.
A total of 20 people were apprehended on 77 offences, including 19 young people on 71 charges and an adult on six offences.
Most charges related to stolen vehicles, break and enters and bail offences.
Taskforce Guardian works alongside expert Youth Justice workers and frontline police to target recidivist property offenders and bolster community safety through numerous engagements such as street checks, bail checks, breaches of bail and warrants.
In addition, Rockhampton residents had the opportunity this month to participate in crime and safety workshops, engage with high-visibility policing, and access valuable crime prevention resources, through a newly launched community safety pilot, ‘Safer Together Rockhampton’.
Vehicle theft and home break-ins were identified as key community concerns through surveys and workshops and in response, tailored crime prevention resourced were tailored towards Rockhampton through the Safer Together Rockhampton initiative.
This included the delivery of videos that portray the mindset of opportunistic offenders, pop-up stalls for police and residents to connect and share prevention resources, and security checklists specifically for new rental tenants and senior residents.
Capricornia District Officer Acting Superintendent Mark Burgess said crime prevention was a shared responsibility between police and members of the public.
“Local police work hard to protect our local community and we welcome assets such as Taskforce Guardian into our region to strengthen our response to youth crime.
“Capricornia police will continue to undertake protection and enforcement activities however it is also important that community members work with us.
“By accessing crime prevention resources, engaging in community workshops and fostering connections within the community, residents can play a pivotal role in helping safeguard their neighbourhoods.
“I want to reiterate victims are never to blame for crimes and we will do everything we can to bring offenders to account for their actions. However, through collaborative efforts, there are proactive measures we can take to enhance safety and deter opportunistic offending.”
Second clip: A 13-year-old Berserker boy was arrested in relation to the alleged wilful damage of a number of vehicles at a business in Rockhampton earlier this month. He was charged with one count each of wilful damage and trespass and was due to appear before Rockhampton Childrens Court on March 19.
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.
Report crime information anonymously via Crime Stoppers. Call 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestoppersqld.com.au.
