Evidence of street racing from hoons around Townsville. (Pic: Megan Brayley) Source: Supplied
Evidence of street racing from hoons around Townsville. (Pic: Megan Brayley) Source: Supplied
ROAMING gangs of teens and children as young as 12 have turned a regional city into a war zone and authorities say they are powerless to deal with the problem.
Townsville residents say they are living in terror of children and teens who spend their nights racing stolen cars, breaking into properties, and committing assault.
Earlier this month a 14-year-old was hospitalised in a critical condition after the stolen car he was travelling in crashed into a power pole. The 16-year-old unlicensed driver and a 13-year-old passenger reportedly ran from the scene and left him for dead.
A Townsville Dog Squad officer and his police dog are lucky to be alive after hoons attempted to run them down in a stolen vehicle. And last week, a stolen ute was clocked racing the streets at speeds of 235km/h.
Townsville police Inspector Ian Haughton said police were especially concerned about the dangerous speeds that were being detected.
"That vehicle (doing 235km/h in an 80km/h zone) is not going to stop. The driver has a death wish," Insp Haughton said. "That is tragedy waiting to happen."
Townsville City Council's Healthy City Safe City chairman Gary Eddiehausen, a former police officer, said police were dealing with same faces, names and families.
"The kids need to be accountable. Parents have a responsibility and need to be held accountable," he said.
"The people in Townsville are sick to death of this and I fear it is only a matter of time before an innocent person is killed."
But one concerned Townsville resident, who did not want to be named, said there was not much the parents could do.
"They come from wealthy homes with good parents, they're going astray," the resident told news.com.au.
"Two years ago, my house was broken into; they came in with golf clubs, they took an Xbox, some games and cigarettes.
"There's no repercussions for their actions, they're not scared to do it again. Some of the parents have tried to control their kids but they just run away. I'm worried someone is going to take the law into their own hands."
Member for Thuringowa Sam Cox (R) and Member for Townsville John Hathaway (L) are joined by Police Minister Jack Dempsey last July to launch a Crime Action Plan to tackle crime head on and reduce crime rates. Source: Supplied
Townsville mayor Jenny Hill said the north-eastern coastal community was "fed up and waiting for the state to deal with this".
"Whatever we are doing isn't working," she said. "We don't have the capacity within the council to provide too much support. It's a law and order issue that falls on the shoulders of state representatives and police."
Ms Hill has pointed the blame at the Queensland Government for not looking into the matter as promised.
"This is a state issue, a number of commitments were made during the state election, obviously the issue hasn't gone away," she said.
"I want to give the opportunity for the state members to keep their commitments to see what they'll do. I think that's only fair, but the patience within the community is running out.
"We run our own security patrols for our parks, we have CCTV, but ultimately this has nothing to do with that. This has everything to do with stolen cars and high speed chases."
Six-year-old Kyla Tuohy joins in the protest at a rally at the local Children's Court to show their outrage against weak sentences for juvenile offenders earlier this month. (Pic: Zak Simmonds) Source: Supplied
Queensland MP Sam Cox - the Member for Thuringowa, a suburb and commercial hub of western Townsville - is calling for a "top to bottom" review of the youth justice system.
Tougher penalties, a review of police pursuit powers, the introduction of penalties for juveniles who breach bail conditions and the naming of repeat offenders are among the ideas being considered, with Townsville residents expected to play a key role in the review.
Mr Cox described the latest outbreak of youth crime as "outrageous" and has the backing of Mundingburra MP and Local Government Minister David Crisafulli for his youth justice shake-up.
"I met with (Townsville police) Inspector Ian Haughton who filled me in on what has been going on … and I have no words," Mr Cox said.
"To hear about young kids in stolen cars doing 235km/h in an 80km/h zone, hoons trying to run down a police officer.
"We need a full review of the youth justice system, the penalties, if the police need more powers and support to pursue these people doing dangerous speeds."
Townsville Crime alerts members conducted a rally at the local Children's Court during the lunch break to show their outrage against weak sentences for juvenile offenders earlier this month. (Pic: Zak Simmonds) Source: Supplied
State MP Crisafulli said there was "no denying action was needed" to address the youth crime problem in Townsville.
"We can dance around it all we like but there is an issue and the sad part is that it is always the same small percentage of protected species that are doing the damage," he said.
"Just because they are young doesn't mean they can't rip an innocent person's life to shreds."
State Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie has confirmed he will visit Townsville next week to discuss the concerns of the local community.
"I am well aware of the issues facing the region and will travel to Townsville next Wednesday, February 27, to meet with local members and their constituents to discuss their concerns," he said in a statement.
"As part of its second six month action plan, January – June 2013, the Government has made a commitment to get tough on youth crime and commence a formal review of the Youth Justice Act 1992.
Given the current situation, Townsville residents will play a key role in this review.
Torhild Parkinson of Townsville Crime Alerts, a Facebook community forum that held a rally outside Townsville Magistrates Court on Wednesday, said the time for action is now.
"We don't have the time to sit around while they do a review," she said. "Residents have had enough. If they want to make changes just do it."
Torhild Parkinson runs the Townsville Crime Alert. (Pic: Fiona Harding) Source: Supplied
Anyone with information that can help police should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Are you a concerned member of the Tpwnsville community or do you have your own story to tell? Contact Matt Young via Twitter @the_mattyoung
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