Queensland records worst crime statistics in two years

Queensland Police statistics paint a dire picture of the state’s crime outlook with a monthly average of 50,000 offences committed in 2023.

Assaults, sexual offences, robbery, arson, unlawful entry and stolen vehicles all climbed in Queensland crime data released by police on Wednesday.

The state recorded a total of 603,321 offences in 2023, an increase of 7.3 per cent on the previous year.

Some 20,211 cases of unlawful use of a vehicle were recorded - the first time numbers have reached over 20,000 in a year - and unlawful entry numbers climbed to 147,074.

Both categories reached their highest recorded totals since pre-2001.

The number of assaults increased from 51,835 in 2022 to 57,654 last year and continued a trend of rising assault cases across the state since 2014.

The far north region was the only area to have a decline in assaults in Queensland in 2023.

But while the statistics provide raw data, Deputy Commissioner Shane Chelepy said across the board the general increase in crime is at about five per cent when modelled next to population growth.

He said cost-of-living impacts have raised shop thefts significantly in the last 12 months and that only 11 per cent of solved offences are committed by young juveniles.

“The police are working hard every single day of the week to work with our community, listen to our community,” he told reporters on Wednesday.

“And while the organisation is driven by crime stats ... the bigger thing here is how the community feel.

“Even if we had a decrease in crime stats but the community still felt unsafe, I don’t see that as a success.”

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli said behind every offence is a victim and the data proves crime is worsening in Queensland.

He said a generation of hardcore recidivist offenders were wreaking havoc on communities and the LNP would re-write the Youth Justice Act if elected at the 2024 state election.

“A generation of untouchables have been created,” he told reporters on Wednesday.

“A generation who know that their rights outweigh the rights of everyday Queenslanders, a generation that conduct themselves without any fear of the law.”

Data from the state government statistician’s office in 2021-2022 shows the rate of “unique” or first-time child offenders has continued to decline across the state.

A crime report from the statistician’s office also found there were more than 20 per cent fewer unique youth offenders in 2021-22, compared to 2012-13.

Four teenagers were arrested in Brisbane on Saturday after allegedly stealing a car from a Bardon address and livestreaming their joyriding on social media.

Police say youth criminals are doing this for social media clout.

Mr Crisafulli said hardcore recidivist offenders are doing this due to the current legislation.