QPS Polair swoops on youth crime
- The Crisafulli Government reveals Polair has helped arrest 785 offenders across South East Queensland, including 165 juveniles, this financial year.
- Aerial crews helped recover more than 250 stolen vehicles across Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
- The Crisafulli Government is committed to turning the tables on Labor's Youth Crime Crisis.
The Crisafulli Government has released new data showcasing the impact the Queensland Police Service's Polair division is having fighting Labor's Youth Crime Crisis.
The latest figures reveal the aerial police team has assisted in the arrest 785 offenders across the South East, including 165 juveniles this financial year, playing a critical role in cracking down on vehicle thefts and armed robberies.
With 31 Tactical Flight Officers operating advanced aerial surveillance systems, officers on the ground are provided with the intelligence and situational awareness needed to safely intercept offenders and prevent further harm.
Since July 1 2024, the Polair team responded to more than 1,500 priority incidents, including nearly 500 high priority Code 1 and Code 2 jobs within just 12 minutes of dispatch. The helicopters were also the first police asset on scene in more than half of all callouts.
Beyond its crime response, Polair has supported 131 missing person operations, including searches for vulnerable children, elderly Queenslanders and those with medical conditions.
The Minister for Police and Emergency Services Dan Purdie commended the Polair team for its precision and effectiveness in tracking suspects and supporting frontline police.
"The Crisafulli Government takes a zero-tolerance to crime as we tackle the Labor Government's Youth Crime Crisis. If you're breaking the law, our police will find you and you will face our tough Adult Time, Adult Crime laws," Minister Purdie said.
"These results show how our aerial police give our officers the edge they need to stay one step ahead of offenders. These young offenders need to understand: there are no easy getaways."
Minister Purdie experienced first-hand the capability of Polair, becoming involved in a police pursuit of a stolen vehicle through the streets of Logan on 23 April during an operational flight.
"Despite being airborne, it was a very grounding experience to sit alongside the crew as they helped track another stolen car last month," he said.
The Minister criticised the former Labor Government's short-term approach to public safety, pointing to its funding black holes which has left the Polair division possibly short-changed.
"Labor left regional Queenslanders behind, funding Polair operations in Cairns and the Sunshine Coast for just 12 months, without any plan for long-term capability," he said.
"This is just another example of how Labor was using bandaids solutions to fix the Youth Crime Crisis.
"From the skies above our neighbourhoods to the streets below, we're giving police the tools and resources Labor never did and delivering real results."
