Police know the identity of kids who are serious repeat offenders in Queensland, the state's top cop has admitted, but they struggle to keep them behind bars,
Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll told reporters of her frustrations on Sunday, after a number of high-profile incidents.
Several police officers were injured when pursuing teens in an allegedly stolen car in Townsville on Saturday, and a couple and their unborn child were killed near Brisbane, allegedly by a 17-year-old in a stolen car on Tuesday.
Both incidents involved repeat offenders who allegedly intentionally swerved towards police and other motorists or pedestrians, police say.
"This is extraordinarily frustrating," Commissioner Carroll said.
"You have this small cohort of children that constantly offend.
"They're children that we're always opposing bail for, we're always before court for, and we're always arresting on those charges.
"We definitely know who they are.
"Whether it's Townsville or anywhere else, I can tell you that the police are doing the right thing."
The Commissioner took aim at youth bail laws, saying she had approached the Police Minister to have them reviewed.
"I wish more were actually put in custody and remained in custody because we are finding that extraordinarily difficult at the moment."
"But, having said that, I'm not sitting in the Magistrate's chair."
Police Minister Mark Ryan said the number of youth offenders was actually decreasing, but "hardcore", "motivated" groups were committing more crime.
"In most towns it's a couple of dozen," he said.
Mr Ryan said he was having conversations about youth bail changes, but defended the current system.
"Whilst there is still this very frustrating situation where there is a small cohort committing crime... for the vast majority of offenders the system is working - 85 per cent of them never return to crime."
"If you adopted a view that every young person who steals a KitKat goes to jail... then you actually criminalise those kids."
The LNP Opposition said the Labor government had twice weakened youth justice laws and accused Mr Ryan of trivialising the issue.
"I'm not talking about chocolate theft. Give me a break," LNP leader David Crisafulli told reporters.
"I'm talking about serious crimes, repeat offenders, time and time again breaking communities."
He called for the government to admit its mistakes and commit to youth bail reform.
Australian Associated Press
