Fearful and angry neighbours have united in a desperate bid to stop gangs of juvenile offenders wreaking havoc in a popular new coastal development.
Bokarina Beach residents hastily convened meetings in the barbecue area of the local park on Friday, January 27, and Sunday, February 5, in the wake of ongoing house break-ins, stolen cars and theft of other property including tools.
The area was particularly hit hard on Australia Day (January 26) and into that weekend.
The first meeting prompted local resident Brett Mclachlan to inquire about the cost of a private security patrol for the area.
He posted on the Bokarina Beach Community Page on Facebook: “… I reached out to a company that provides a nightly patrol service – 6pm to 6am. If they got about 200 residents to sign up the cost would be about $26 per week. The more residents, the cheaper it would be …”
An accompanying poll on his post showed 42 per cent of the 63 who voted would consider funding the initiative. Mr Mclachlan told Sunshine Coast News that at this stage, the initiative would be too cost prohibitive.
But while they are being proactive about preventing further crimes as individual households and taking steps as a community, the residents want the State Government to do more to protect them.
Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Member for Kawana Jarrod Bleijie has vowed to take their pleas for stronger juvenile justice measures to State Parliament.
“Many residents are rightfully angry at the state of the youth crime crisis in Queensland,” Mr Bleijie told Sunshine Coast News.
“The message from residents was clear at both meetings. They want juveniles held accountable for their actions and they want the laws changed so there are consequences for actions.
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“Many residents are living in fear and looking at now installing CCTV and other security systems to protect themselves and their property.
“Residents were given information from Queensland Police Service (QPS), Neighbourhood Watch and Crime Stoppers. There was interest in setting up a Neighbourhood Watch group in Bokarina.
“I received a strong indication from residents that they want me to take the fight for stronger juvenile justice laws to parliament when parliament returns in February.”
Crime statistics on the QPS website show Bokarina had four unlawful entry offences, two other property damage offences, one unlawful use of a motor vehicle and five other types of theft from January 8-February 7.
But the statistics don’t tell the full story.
Mr Bleijie said ‘frightening stories’ had emerged of anti-social behaviour, with threats to people and businesses.
“I met with most of the victims of crime from the Australia Day break-ins,” he said.
“The gang that broke into and attempted to break into about five homes on Australia Day and on the 27th were not from the Sunshine Coast.
“Residents are rightly worried that unless these offenders are caught, they may come back.
“There was great concern that the juvenile justice system just lets repeat young offenders out after they are arrested.
“I was both sad and angry hearing from one of the victims whose home was broken into.
“She was home at the time and interrupted two offenders in her front bedroom.
“I cannot begin to imagine the horror that she went through. This was in broad daylight.
“Young people seem to have no regard for any consequences, which proves there are none at the moment.”
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AAP reports that new data, released in January, indicated more than half of young offenders subject to sentence supervision in Queensland were back in contact with the criminal justice system within 12 months.
The Productivity Commission figures showed close to 57 per cent of Queenslanders aged 10 to 16 at the time of release returned to some form of sentence supervision within a year in 2019-20.
The rate is the highest among all jurisdictions but continued a downward trend over the previous two years that peaked at 65 per cent in 2017-18.
The numbers come as the State Government pledges that new laws designed to drive down youth crime will take priority when parliament returns for 2023.
The youth justice laws, announced on December 29, will be among the first introduced to parliament later this month.
Deputy Premier Steven Miles said programs delivered in detention were an opportunity to intervene in the cycle of reoffending, but delays in the court system were affecting access.
Many offenders were spending so much time on remand that they’d already served their penalty by the time they were sentenced, he said.
Mr Bleijie, a former state attorney-general, said more police presence would help in the Bokarina area but he would “continue to advocate for stronger laws to deal with juvenile justice”.
“When Annastacia Palaszczuk was elected Premier, one of the first pieces of legislation she introduced was to weaken the juvenile justice laws,” he said.
“Now, residents are suffering the consequences of those weakened laws. I will fight for better laws, to put victims first, not offenders.
“The other thing I will advocate for is better early intervention programs to break the cycle of repeat offending.”
To report suspicious behaviour, call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or go to the website.
QPS has offered advice on how homeowners can protect themselves through the Layered Security Assessment. A Home Security Guide is also on the QPS website.
