How Queensland’s youth crime crackdown is forcing vulnerable kids into ‘brutal’ detention system

Severe overcrowding in local watch houses typically follows Taskforce Guardian ‘flying squad’ arrests in one region, before police move on to the next. Photograph: Dave Hunt/AAP

With an election on the horizon, the Queensland government has begun posting tallies of the children arrested and charged by its flagship “saturation” youth crime operation.

The announcement of Taskforce Guardian’s 1,000th arrest included a video with a musical backing track, a press conference with government ministers and a public statement. There was more fanfare when the number hit 1,200 in May.