Video: Rise in Crime on the Gold Coast
Summary
The Gold Coast has experienced a significant surge in crime, particularly in the mid-north regions. Runaway Bay, for instance, reported a 200% increase in robberies over a 12-month period.
Overall, between 2015 and 2016, the area saw a 75% rise in assaults, a 24% uptick in robberies, and a 45% increase in breaches of Domestic Violence protection orders.
Experts attribute this escalation to inadequate allocation of police resources and a growing number of young offenders. Criminologist Lorraine Mazerolle emphasises the need for strategic deployment of law enforcement based on time and location to prevent crime effectively.
Criminal lawyer Michael McMillan points out that the leniency extended to juvenile offenders may fail to deter future criminal behaviour. Residents express concerns over safety and the apparent insufficiency of resources to match the region’s growth.
Transcript
Newsreader: A wave of crime flooding our streets and it’s our mid-north that’s drowning.
David Crisafulli: What we are seeing is that, piece by piece people feel as though their safety is being taken away from them.
Newsreader: Runaway Bay recording a 200% jump in robberies in just 12 months.
Runaway Bay Resident: We’re facing an environment where there’s too little resources to cover our exapansion on the Coast.
Newsreader: The area (Runaway Bay) isn’t alone with police stats showing that between 2015 – 2016, assaults rose a staggering 75% on the coast. The number of robberies spiked by 24%, shockingly there has been a 45% increase in people breaching their Domestic Violence (DV) protection orders. Criminologists say that police resources aren’t the issue but where they are deployed is what needs to be looked at.
Lorraine Mazerolle: Shifting resources around, the time of day, the day of week and making sure that the resources are put there from a preventative perspective.
Newsreader: Experts say the crime spike can also be attributed to an increase in young offenders, who even admit that the consequences aren’t harsh enough to deter them.
Michael McMillan: Courts extend them considerable leniency up until they become adults and in fact, sometimes it seems the damage might have already occurred.
Newsreader: QLD Police was contacted for comment.