Police have launched an operation to prevent and disrupt disorderly behaviour by young people on the Sunshine Coast.
Officers from the Tactical Crime Squad, Child Protection Investigation Unit, Criminal Investigation Branch and local officers have established Operation Xray Sorcerer.
The campaign started on Saturday, September 6, and will cover the September school holidays and lead into the Christmas school holidays.
Several disruption and prevention strategies will be executed, targeting people aged 11 to 17 in public places, including high-visibility patrols, wanding for weapons and bail compliance inspections.
Beyond enforcement, the operation will prioritise engagement with children alongside the Sunshine Coast Youth Co-Responder Team (YCRT).
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The YCRT engages with young people who come into contact with the criminal justice system or are at risk of doing so.
The team may be involved in proactively de-escalating and problem-solving where groups congregate, transporting young people to safety, connecting young people and their caregivers with support services, and exploring diversionary pathways.
Detective Inspector Chris Toohey said engagement with the YCRT would be a key aspect of the operation.
“It’s important that we surround young people who are at risk of coming into contact with the criminal justice system, and their friends and family, with support and the tools they need to stay on the right path,” he said.
“We’re asking parents to work alongside us in preventing and disrupting anti-social behaviour and offending.
“Particularly during the school holidays, I urge you to be aware of where your children are, who they are with, and what items they have with them.
“We want to work together with parents and the YCRT to ensure our children are safe and directed away from any criminal offending.
“Though we haven’t seen a notable increase in youth crime on the Sunshine Coast, we know that young people tend to gather in groups in public places during the school holidays, which can lead to anti-social behaviour.
“We want to ensure that both our young people and the wider community are safe, and feel safe.”
If you have information for police, contact Policelink by providing information using the online suspicious activity form 24hrs per day at police.qld.gov.au/reporting. Report crime information anonymously via Crime Stoppers. Call 1800 333 000 or report online at crimestoppersqld.com.au.
