With reference to the crime statistics released yesterday, will she advise of details for Cairns and Far North Queensland?

ANSWER

The 2006/07 Annual Statistical Review showed some pleasing results with the overall crime rate falling by one percent in the Far Northern Region.

The overall rate of offences against the person fell by eight percent. Also the rate of assault offences decreased by 11 percent with 236 fewer offences reported during the financial year.

The overall rate for ‘property offences' in the Far Northern Region fell by three percent in the past 12 months. The overall rate of unlawful entry offences decreased by seven percent. When breaking this figure down, there was a six percent decrease in the rate of dwelling offences, 19 percent fall for break-ins of shops and a three percent decrease in the unlawful entry of other premises. This equates to 133 fewer break-ins reported to police in 2006/07 compared to 2005/06.

Detailed information can be found in the police services annual statistical review at www.police.qld.gov.au.

The midyear snapshot for Queensland provided encouraging statistics where Queensland has recorded reductions in all three broad offence categories per 100,000 persons. Offences against the person are down 5% Offences against property are down 13%, and Other Offences are down 1%.

Detailed crime statistics for all police regions and districts for 2007/08 will be available in the annual statistical review which will be released in November this year.

Police in the far northern region have been conducting a number of proactive strategies in order to push crime rates down.

CAIRNS DISTRICT

Policing Operations

• Operation Headline was commenced in December 2006 to target offenders and ‘hot spot' locations and to assist with crime investigation activities. It involves the creation and ongoing operation of a proactive squad dedicated to:
  • identifying crime ‘hot spots';
  • patrolling identified ‘hot spots' and targeting identified recidivist and violent offenders;
  • conducting compliance audits of second hand dealers;
  • reviewing unsolved crime reports to obtain new information;
  • obtaining intelligence on suspects;
  • conducting property crime awareness campaigns, including house to house -personal visits in ‘hot spot' areas for property offences;
  • identifying and undertaking intense management of high-risk recidivist offenders through application of the Offender Risk Assessment Matrix (ORAM) by the Cairns District ORAM Committee; and
  • arranging media campaigns to promote property security.
• Results: 578 charges, 258 liquor infringement notices, 40 drunk diversions, 839 street checks.
• Operation Amazon is an ongoing monthly operation within the Cairns Police Division that has been actioned 42 times since implementation in 2005. It is aimed at reducing the incidence of assaults and related offences in the Cairns CBD. In conducting this operation police have worked closely with other government bodies, including through joint operations. The other involved bodies include the Liquor Licensing Division, the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service, Queensland Health, Environmental Officers from the Tropical Population Health Unit (tobacco legislation enforcement) and the Cairns City Council. Results: 931 arrests and 277 Notices to Appear for liquor and street-related offences.
• Operation Dakota is an ongoing operation in Cairns which commenced in January 2008. It targets property-related offences and disorderly behaviour in shopping centres and the CBD. Results: 81 arrests, 118 charges, 1 drug diversion, 24 liquor infringement notices, 112 street checks.
• Operation Imperial was conducted in the Cairns District from January to March 2008. It targeted drug-related offences (external to Drug Squad operations). Results: 33 arrests, 74 charges, 24 drug diversions.
• Operation Elusive was conducted in the Cairns District from January to March 2008. It targeted persons wanted on warrants for failing to appear in court. Results: 61 arrests, 96 charges, 1 drug diversion, 4 liquor infringement notices, 11 street checks.
• Operation Brennan was conducted in the Cairns CBD from January to March 2008. It was a City Beat operation carried out in two parts. The first part involved the rostering of plain clothes patrols within the Cairns CBD both day and night to target anti-social offending and potential assault offenders. The second part of the operation involved a joint Council, City Beat activity whereby officers identified offenders from CCTV recordings of disturbances. Results: 42 arrests/prosecutions on 54 charges, 47 liquor infringement notices.
• Operation Krimmer is a City Beat rolling operation aimed at improving management practices in licensed premises to reduce the rate of offending, particular for assaults. It targets liquor-related offences for which liquor infringement notices can be issued. Results for the period 1 January to 31 March 2008: 3,724 offenders detected and issued with infringement notices for total fines of $380,625.
• Operation Inflate was conducted in Cairns on New Year's Eve. Results: 54 persons charged with 59 charges, 28 liquor infringement notices issued.
• The Bail Curfew Action Plan commenced in the Cairns District in March 2008. It involves the checking of persons (particularly juveniles) required to comply with bail curfew conditions. Results: 27 curfew checks conducted and 3 arrests for breaching bail conditions.
• Action Plans were implemented by Cairns General Duties Police on 7 and 14 March 2008 to assist specialist sections in targeting ‘hot spot' areas. Results: 7 arrests, 7 charges, 36 street checks, 1 liquor infringement notice.

INNISFAIL DISTRICT

Policing Operations

The Innisfail Police District has implemented a range of strategies aimed at preventing crime and bringing offenders to justice. The District Scenes of Crime Officers respond to a significant number of property offences. This increases the likelihood of finding forensic evidence. The District also uses a number of pro-active strategies to follow-up old crimes to ascertain whether any new information is available. In addition, Innisfail Police use assault reduction strategies such as the ‘Cooling off with Options' initiative aimed at diverting minor assaults to dispute resolution.

MAREEBA DISTRICT

Policing Operations

• Operation Beetle 2 was conducted during the Quad Bike Rally held at Einasleigh on 22 and 23 March 2008. This operation was very successful. Communications with the organisers were excellent and the crowd was well managed and cooperative. Results: Caution for unlicensed driving (juvenile), 2 charges for driving un-roadworthy vehicle, 6 charges for public nuisance offences.
• Operation Firefly 1 was conducted at Dimbulah on 4 April 2008 to target illegal rural workers in the area. This joint operation involved officers from Dimbulah Police Station, the Stock and Rural Crime Investigation Squad and the Department of Immigration. Results: 17 illegal workers from Malaysia deported from the country. Further inquiries being conducted by Department of Immigration.
• Operation Whitetail 1 was conducted at Atherton on 19 April 2008 to police the Grinspoon concert. Results: 12 persons charged mainly with good order offences, 4 liquor infringement notices issued.
• Operation Redback 4 was conducted at Mareeba on 20 April 2008 to police the Bull Ride event. Results: 1 charge for Assault Occasioning Bodily Harm.