Taskforce Guardian detectives alongside Wide Bay police have charged 24 people on 61 charges, including 22 young people on 22 charges, as part of Taskforce Guardian's recent deployment to the Hervey Bay and Maryborough areas.
This is the 42nd deployment for Taskforce Guardian since May 2023, which has amounted to 743 people charged on 2,388 offences state-wide.
From January 3rd to 11th, the Taskforce including police and expert Youth Justice workers, worked alongside local police to boost police efforts in tackling offending and enhancing community safety across Hervey Bay and Maryborough.
The deployment included conducting proactive patrols, bail compliance checks, assisting with investigations and engaging with the community to ensure police activity suited the needs of each area.
The 57 charges against young people included 13 diversions, eight breaches of bail, two counts of robbery with violence, seven counts of enter premises and commit, three counts of assault and five counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle.
Detective Acting Inspector Wade Lee commended Taskforce Guardian for boosting local police efforts to maintain a high-visibility police presence in Hervey Bay and Maryborough, to keep the community safe.
"It's extremely valuable to have an asset like Taskforce Guardian to assist so quickly when the community needs it," he said.
"Having Taskforce Guardian fly in and boost the number of boots on the ground, gives local police the tools they need to enhance strategies in place to locate offenders and enhance safety.
"Wide Bay police are committed to utilising every resource and tool, to strategically tackle the issue of youth offending from every angle, including arresting those who may be a risk to the community and engaging those at-risk of becoming serious offenders with services to redirect their behaviour.
"We thank the community for continuing to provide us information that informs investigations, and we look forward to continuing to work around the clock to support community safety."
If you have information for police, contact Policelink by providing information using the online suspicious activity form 24hrs per day at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting.
Report crime information anonymously via Crime Stoppers. Call 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestoppersqld.com.au.
