BRISBANE, Queensland, Aug. 20 -- The Queensland Department of the Premier and Cabinet issued text of the following statement:

Minister for Police and Emergency Services

The Honourable Dan Purdie

* Police have charged 281 people in the Wide Bay Burnett district in less than six months of Operation Forge as the Crisafulli Government continues to turn the tide on Labor's Youth Crime Crisis. * Operation Forge is a statewide, high-visibility operation targeting high harm offences that exploded under Labor - break-ins, robberies and stolen vehicle offences, and is restoring safety where you live. * TheCrisafulli Government is giving police the laws, resources and support they need to make Queensland safer after a decade of decline under Labor.

The Crisafulli Government is making Wide Bay Burnett safer and turning the tide on Labor's Youth Crime Crisis with police charging almost 300 offenders - including serious and repeat offenders - in less than six months of Operation Forge.

Since launching on 27 February, Operation Forge has delivered record results in the Wide Bay Burnett district with local police charging 281 people - including 92 juveniles - with 707 offences after the former Labor Government's watering down of Queensland youth 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 high harm offences that exploded during Labor's decade of decline - break-ins, robberies and stolen vehicle offences.

These results come a day after the Crisafulli Government announced a new $28 million replacement police facility would be delivered in Hervey Bay to ensure frontline officers were equipped with the modern facilities they need to do their jobs and restore safety across Queensland.

The former Labor Government's decade of weak laws created the Youth Crime Crisis and a generation of serious repeat offenders, which saw the number of victims of crime skyrocket 193 per cent.

The Crisafulli Government is delivering stronger laws and more police with the tools they need to fight Labor's Youth Crime Crisis and has already delivered a 9.6 per cent drop in the number of victims of crime in Queensland, according to police data compared to Labor's last financial year.

Since the October 2024 election, a total of 1,965 new officers have been sworn into the Queensland Police Service - including 87 to the Wide Bay Burnett district - exceeding the Crisafulli Government's election commitment to deliver 1,600 new recruits and taking the Service beyond 13,000 officers for the first time in the State's history after Labor's decade of decline.

Minister for Police and Emergency Services Dan Purdie said the Crisafulli Government was giving local police the laws, resources and support they need to make the Wide Bay Burnett district safer.

"The Crisafulli Government is restoring safety in the Wide Bay Burnett district and turning the tide on Labor's Youth Crime Crisis through proactive and targeted police work like Operation Forge," Minister Purdie said.

"Operation Forge is cracking down on Labor's generation of serious repeat offenders by targeting the crimes that exploded under the former Labor Government - break-ins, robberies and stolen vehicle offences.

"The Crisafulli Government remains committed to giving police the laws, resources and support they need to make Queensland safer after Labor's decade of decline saw the number of victims of crime surge 193 per cent and frontline officers leave the Service in droves."

Member for Gympie Tony Perrett said Operation Forge was making sure serious offenders knew there would be consequences for their actions.

"Families across the Gympie region deserve safety where they live, and I'm pleased to see our local police taking the fight directly to repeat offenders after a decade of Labor's soft-on-crime approach," Mr Perrett said.

Member for Maryborough John Barounis said local police were working hard to target the offenders causing the most harm in the community.

"Operation Forge is putting pressure on the serious and repeat offenders who have caused so much damage to our communities during a decade of decline under Labor," Mr Barounis said.

Member for Hervey Bay David Lee said Operation Forge was delivering results by targeting the high-harm offences that had plagued communities under the former Labor Government.

"Labor spent a decade weakening Queensland's youth crime laws, and our communities paid the price - Operation Forge is helping police turn that around and hold serious offenders to account," Mr Lee said.

Member for Burnett Stephen Bennett said Operation Forge was delivering a stronger response to the serious and repeat offenders who had taken advantage of Labor's weak laws.

"Under Labor, repeat offenders were given too many chances, but that free ride is over - Operation Forge is making sure those who break the law are held to account," Mr Bennett said.

Member for Callide Bryson Head said the results demonstrated the importance of backing police with strong laws and the resources to enforce them.

"Queenslanders expect serious offenders to be held to account, and our police now have the support they need to get the job done after a decade of decline under Labor," Mr Head said.

Wide Bay Burnett Police District Officer Superintendent Anne Vogler said Operation Forge had helped police maintain a strong focus on high-harm and repeat offending across the district.

Wide Bay Burnett Police District Officer Superintendent Anne Vogler said Wide Bay Police were committed to apprehending dangerous offenders through targeted operations including Forge.

"These results are a reflection of the good work and dedication of officers across the district in keeping the community safe, and we are bolstering our officers' capabilities to continue to crack down on unlawful use, robbery and unlawful entry offences," Superintendent Vogler said.

"This month we have seen the commencement of the Wide Bay Tactical Crime Squad Bundaberg Satellite Office in response to the recent growth of the unit to support targeted operations including Yankee Forge.

"Wide Bay Police are committed to apprehending dangerous offenders swiftly and preventing further possible victims."

ENDS

MEDIA CONTACT: Nat Gradwell, 0449 186 116

Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.