Communities across Queensland can expect to see a heightened police presence as authorities target youth crime over the holiday break.
At least 2,200 new officer shifts have been made available over the next seven weeks in northern parts of the state, including Mount Isa, Townsville and Cairns.
Operation Uniform Theta will result in more police being on the ground in public places and residential areas and more staff being assigned to bail checks of young offenders.
There will also be a focus on youth co-responder teams, where police and youth services groups work to prevent at-risk juveniles from engaging in offending behaviour.
"What we generally see during this period is elevated rates of offending, particularly youth offending; we know that the kids have finished school, they're out and about sometimes unsupervised," Acting Deputy Commissioner Mark Wheeler said at a press conference in Cairns today.
"We ask the community to actually go and engage with police; tell them what their concerns are, give them information about anything that's going on in the community."
Residents losing faith
The ability of authorities to curb youth crime was called into question recently after a rise in thefts in Cairns and Mount Isa.
Mount Isa resident of 58 years, Brett Peterson, said police had lost control of the streets as his town grappled with a spate of car thefts earlier this month.
"The community is at its wit's end," he said.
Meanwhile, a record number of cars were stolen in Cairns earlier this year.
Police Minister Mark Ryan said state government was committed to tackling youth offending and breaking the cycle of crime for young offenders.
"I know residents and visitors to northern parts of our state will be reassured with having extra boots on the ground and on patrol, keeping our communities safe over the holidays," he said.
