- Rockhampton police have arrested 229 offenders in the first three months of Operation Forge as the Crisafulli Government continues to turn the tide on Labor's Youth Crime Crisis.
- Operation Forge and Operation Interpose combine high-visibility policing with targeted enforcement to improve community safety across Central Queensland.
- The Crisafulli Government is making Queensland safer and delivering more police to the frontline after Labor's decade of decline.
The Crisafulli Government is making Rockhampton safer, and turning the tide on Labor's Youth Crime Crisis, with police arresting more than 200 offenders in the first three months of Operation Forge.
Since launching on 27 February, Operation Forge has delivered record results in Central Queensland, with local police arresting 229 people - including 89 juveniles - on 545 charges after the former Labor Government's watering down of Queensland's crime laws created a generation of serious repeat offenders.
The statewide, high-visibility operation is part of the Crisafulli Government's plan to make Queensland safer, targeting offenders responsible for the most harm – including break-ins, robberies, and stolen vehicle offences.
Alongside Operation Forge, police have also continued high-visibility traffic enforcement activities under Operation Interpose, a rolling road safety operation focused on reducing road trauma and targeting dangerous driving behaviours across Queensland roads.
Between 25 April and 25 May, local police have:
- conducted 21,230 roadside breath tests and 624 roadside drug tests;
- charged 93 drink drivers and 116 drug drivers;
- and issued 1,900 traffic infringement notices, including 27 for hooning-specific offences.
Operation Interpose supports ongoing road policing efforts between major holiday traffic operations, with officers conducting proactive patrols and enforcement activities targeting speeding, drink and drug driving, distraction, fatigue and seatbelt offences.
The Crisafulli Government is restoring safety where you live and has already delivered a 7.2 per cent reduction in the number of victims of crime in 2025, compared with the previous year, while police attrition has fallen to 2.6 per cent – the lowest level in five years.
The number of overall victims of crime increased by 193 per cent during Labor's decade of decline, while youth offenders charged with car theft surged from 2,155 in 2014 to more than 7,000 in 2024.
More than 1,600 new officers have joined the Queensland Police Service since the 2024 election – including 117 to the Capricornia District alone – taking the Service beyond 13,000 officers for the first time in history.
Under the former Labor Government, police were leaving in droves, with unplanned attrition soaring to 3.3 per cent as frontline officers were forced to do their jobs with one hand tied behind their backs.
Minister for Police and Emergency Services Dan Purdie said today's Operation Forge milestone showed the Crisafulli Government's was restoring safety where you live.
"200 arrests in just 90 days sends a strong message that Rockhampton police are targeting offenders, disrupting crime and restoring safety to Central Queensland, but we know there is still more work to be done," Minister Purdie said.
"Operation Forge is turning the tide on Labor's Youth Crime Crisis by giving police the laws, resources and support they need after a decade of weak laws and failure to back frontline officers.
"At the same time, Operation Interpose is ensuring police remain highly visible on our roads, targeting dangerous driving behaviours and helping prevent further tragedy on Queensland roads
"Queenslanders should be safe in their homes, streets and businesses, and we will continue to back our police to hold offenders to account and fight Labor's Youth Crime Crisis that we inherited."
Member for Mirani Glen Kelly said Operation Forge was delivering real results for Central Queensland communities that had suffered under Labor's Youth Crime Crisis.
"People across the Mirani electorate were sick and tired of being unsafe in their own communities after Labor lost control of youth crime," Mr Kelly said.
"Operation Forge is proving that when you back police with stronger laws and the right resources, you get results".
Member for Keppel Nigel Hutton said Central Queenslanders deserved to be safe in their homes, on their streets and in their businesses.
"Our community has the right to live, work and raise their families without fear, and that's why we must continue backing strong measures that protect local businesses, support police, and put community safety first," Mr Hutton said.
Member for Rockhampton Donna Kirkland said the Crisafulli Government was backing local police with stronger laws, more resources and more frontline officers.
"These investments mean Rockhampton police have the support they need to respond faster, keep the community safe and hold offenders to account," Ms Kirkland said.
Queensland Police Assistant Commissioner Adam Guild said Operations Forge and Interpose demonstrated the Queensland Police Service's ongoing commitment to restoring safety across Central Queensland.
"We remain steadfast in our commitment to strengthening community safety by holding offenders to account, engaging road users, and supporting victims,"Superintendent Burgess said.
"We want fewer victims of crime, and we will continue to target high-harm offenders and disrupt criminal behaviour.
"Our communities can expect to see police on our roads and in public spaces through high-visibility patrols and investigative operations."
Operation Forge will continue for another three months alongside road safety enforcement activities under Operation Interpose.
