The McGowan Government’s successful Target 120 early intervention program, which has delivered strong results since it was launched in 2018, will be rolled out in Karratha and Newman to tackle youth crime and break the cycle of offending in the Pilbara.
Delivered in the 2022-23 State Budget, the $2.5 million expansion will support young people who are at risk of becoming repeat offenders and their families, helping to steer them away from the criminal justice system.
Target 120 is already operating in Port Hedland and 10 other locations around the State.
The extension of the program into Karratha and Newman is part of a wider $11.1 million expansion of the successful initiative to nine new sites, eight of which are in regional Western Australia.
The State Government has also invested $2.5 million in Operation Regional Shield this State Budget, which enables additional police capability to be deployed to any part of regional WA as necessary to tackle juvenile offending.
As stated by Child Protection Minister Simone McGurk:
“Target 120 has proven to be extremely successful in supporting our most at-risk children.
“Around half of the young people involved have had no further contact with police and the expansion of Target 120 in the Pilbara will help build safer communities.
“Target 120 focuses on high-risk young people who have already had contact with police and works intensively with them and their families to help turn their lives around.
“The McGowan Government is committed to improving the lives of young people at risk of becoming repeat offenders and getting lost in the justice system.”
As stated by Police Minister Paul Papalia:
“Operation Regional Shield is about making sure the police resources needed to tackle youth crime in our regions can be there – where they are needed, when they are needed.
“We’ve given police the tools and the funding they’ve asked for to keep the community safe and help get vulnerable children off the street.
“I’ve seen firsthand the incredible work WA Police are doing in our regions, including in the Kimberley. Operation Regional Shield is about giving police the extra boost they need to tackle acute challenges.
“Operation Regional Shield is not just about reducing youth crime. It’s about getting at-risk kids off our streets and taking them to safe places, before they go down the wrong path.”
As stated by Pilbara MLA Kevin Michel:
“I am very pleased to see Target 120 expanding further into the Pilbara to help address issues we are experiencing with youth crime.
“This investment will bring this successful McGowan Government program to Karratha and Newman, giving authorities more resources to work with young people and their families to address these issues.
“Operation Regional Shield is also giving police more resources to respond to criminal activity and keep our community safe.”
Child Protection Minister’s office – 6552 6600
