Queensland will expand its trial of GPS trackers to three more cities, allowing juvenile offenders to live in the community. SEE WHERE
From Monday, the use of ankle-worn electronic monitoring devices to track teen criminals will be extended to Toowoomba, Cairns and Mount Isa.
They join other youth crime hot spots in Townsville, North Brisbane, Moreton Bay, Logan and Gold Coast, which have had access to the trackers for 16 and 17-year-old recidivist offenders since mid-2021.
But the government has increased funding by $4m, with the extended trial to apply to young offenders aged 15 and older.
The government spruiked the devices as another instalment in its crackdown on hardcore youth offenders in the wake of the deaths of Matthew Field, Kate Leadbetter and their unborn baby Miles in Brisbane, and motorcyclist Jennifer Board in Townsville.
Police Minister Mark Ryan said the low numbers of juveniles ordered to wear the devices was evidence the government’s tougher youth justice measures were working and more young offenders were behind bars rather than being monitored on the streets.
“To be clear, an electronic monitoring condition of bail is only issued if the person is being granted bail, and fewer offenders are getting bail,” he said in a statement.
“The reality is that because of strong laws – like the presumption against bail and, for the first time in Queensland’s history, a breach-of-bail offence under the Bail Act for young offenders – more serious recidivist offenders are being remanded in detention for longer.
“This in large part explains why there is a relatively small number of offenders fitted with electronic monitoring devices.”
Despite the low numbers, Mr Ryan said police had ample supplies of trackers ahead of the trial’s extension.
“The Queensland Police Service has more than 70 youth monitoring EMD kits immediately available to be used at the trial locations,” he said.
“Queensland Corrective Services has a store of additional kits available when required.”
When the original trial was announced, the devices were intended to provide an extra layer of security while an offender was on bail in the community.
But it took four months for the first GPS tracker to be handed out in Queensland.
After a 16-month trial, just eight young people had been fitted with GPS trackers.
The devices relied on the outdated 3G mobile data network, which posed network issues in many rural communities.
But Mr Ryan said the telecommunications coverage in remote regions where the trial will be expanded, particularly Mount Isa, would allow the devices to be used effectively.
WHERE TRACKERS WILL BE USED
COURTS ROLLING OUT TRACKERS
Cairns
Coolangatta
Mount Isa
Pine Rivers
Redcliffe
Southport
Toowoomba
Townsville
NEW SUBURBS WHERE OFFENDERS CAN LIVE
4344
Upper Flagstone
4350
Athol, Blue Mountain Heights, Centenary Heights, Charlton, Cotswold Hills, Cranley, Darling Heights, Drayton, East Toowoomba, Finnie, Glenvale, Gowrie Mountain, Harlaxton, Harristown, Kearneys Spring, Middle Ridge, Mount Kynoch, Mount Lofty, Mount Rascal, Newtown, North Toowoomba, Prince Henry Heights, Rangeville, Redwood, Rockville, South Toowoomba, Toowoomba City, Top Camp, Torrington, Wellcamp, Westbrook, Wilsonton, Wilsonton Heights
4352
Ballard, Birnam, Blanchview, Cabarlah, Cawdor, Cutella, Glencoe, Gowrie Junction, Gowrie Little Plain, Highfields, Hodgson Vale, Kleinton, Lilyvale, Meringandan, Meringandan West, Murphys Creek, Preston, Silver Ridge, Spring Bluff, Umbiram, Vale View, Withcott, Woolmer, Wyreema
4356
Broxburn, Linthorpe, Pittsworth
4358
Cambooya
4363
Southbrook
4400
Kingsthorpe
4401
Aubigny, Biddeston, Kings Siding, Oakey
4825
Breakaway, Fisher, Happy Valley, Healy, Kalkadoon, Lanskey, Menzies, Mica Creek, Miles End, Mornington, Mount Isa City, Parkside, Pioneer, Ryan, Soldiers Hill, Spreadborough, Sunset, The Gap, Townview, Winston
4865
Gordonvale
4868
Bayview Heights, Mount Sheridan, White Rock, Woree
4869
Bentley Park, Edmonton, Mount Peter, Wrights Creek
4870
Aeroglen, Brinsmead, Bungalow, Cairns City, Cairns North, Earlville, Edge Hill, Freshwater, Kamerunga, Kanimbla, Manoora, Manunda, Mooroobool, Parramatta Park, Portsmith, Redlynch, Stratford, Westcourt, Whitfield
4878
Barron, Caravonica, Holloways Beach, Machans Beach, Smithfield, Yorkeys Knob
4879
Clifton Beach, Ellis Beach, Kewarra Beach, Palm Cove, Trinity Beach, Trinity Park
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