Police are investigating whether three people in a car tried to chase down a stolen Hyundai in Townsville resulting in the tragic death of Jennifer Board.
Politics by Emily Toxward & Andrew Potts 4th Feb 2021 2:53 PM
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Subscriber only GOLD Coast Mayor Tom Tate has demanded the State Government back hardline policies to crack down on the city s youth crime epidemic. A furious Cr Tate on Thursday said the community was sick and tired of young criminals acting with impunity and demanded action. He backed calls from the Queensland Police Union to trial ankle tracking and supported police getting extra powers to charge young crooks who showcase their crimes on social media. Absolutely, there is evidence there and if they want to show off their crime misadventures and big-note themselves, they should be prosecuted and police should go after them, he said.
GPS trackers set young criminals up for failure, Human Rights Commissioner says
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FebFebruary 2021 at 9:48pm
The Queensland Government said it would consider GPS trackers on young criminals to address youth crime.
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Queensland s Human Rights Commissioner Scott McDougall says GPS trackers are best suited to sex offenders, not children, as he warns the State Government not to rush any changes to the youth justice system.
Mr McDougall said the proposal raised a number of human rights issues and said research suggested GPS devices created a lot of stigma for children and didn t necessarily work .
 The Palaszczuk Government was warned two years ago GPS trackers may help solve its youth justice crisis but will only now seriously consider it after finally admitting we need to go harder against repeat offenders. After days of mounting pressure, Acting Premier Steven Miles admitted the government s review of youth justice clearly may include needing to change the law , and would consider the use of GPS trackers as suggested by the Queensland Police Union. The now revitalised idea was put forward by former police commissioner Bob Atkinson in 2018 in his review into youth justice, but was never adopted. Police Minister Mark Ryan would not be drawn on why Cabinet slapped down the idea then, or why the idea was worthy of consideration now when the government had already decided against it.
HOW refreshing it is to see common sense at last in the debate about youth crime in Queensland. The people of Queensland are crying out for real action to be taken on youth crime, not just the usual platitudes around election time. These actions must start at the cradle with well-trained and experienced child safety officers supported by the police and the courts. Children growing up in an abusive environment will turn to crime and so the cycle repeats itself. If necessary, children should be removed from abusive or drug-fuelled environments. Children are our future and sadly we are failing to give these young people the necessary assistance to create a good life for the future.