A townsville night before christmas!

[Twisted Tenon]

Simplistically it's cause and effect. That's easy for me to say living where I do. For those directly affected by gang violence it must be a the pits. The facts are that the crime rate is decreasing accross Australia and the authorities are at a loss to explain why. Gang violence, alcoholism and illicit use in isolated communities has other causes and as FF has noted there are often other issues at play here. Unemployment and lack of opportunity for indigenous communities, and entrenched racism are foremost in the causes for violence directed outwards to the wider community and of course internalised by rampant DV within their own community.


The end result is significant anger from both sides. This anger is totally understandable. The problem is not a police matter, it is a deep social issue which will never be addressed.

TT

[Big Shed]

This thread has now well and truly been pushed in the political arena, which does not conform to our ToU, therefore some posts have been deleted.

Keep it non-political or the thread WILL be closed.

[bsrlee]

From personal knowledge (retired Police officer) quite a bit of the 'fall' in crime statistics is due to the Police being too busy to put all the incidents on the computer. Back in the late 1990's a certain big, busy Metropolitan Sydney Police command was complaining they were understaffed to which the Ivory Tower said that they did not have enough reported incidents to need more Police. So they went to my boss in Communications for some statistical help. What my boss found was that fully 33% (one third) of all serious incidents reported via 000 were not otherwise recorded on the Police computer system. The Police actually attended the incidents and the customers were happy to see them but there were just not enough hours to write everything up on the computer, so 'it never happened'. That didn't account for incidents that did not come from the public via 000. One arrest would see the car crew off the road for around 3 hours doing all the reports and processing.

Further comments deleted as I was getting old, cranky, cynical and my blood pressure was getting up.

[Dengue]

Nothing has changed bsrlee. Talking with some of the local Police including a family member, up to OIC of one of the large stations in Townsville, the biggest complaint is paperwork

[rustynail]

I grew up in far west NSW. My Dad was the local cop, back in the days when a cop had to work on his own. Our town had a bad reputation when we arrived. Within twelve months things had started to improve dramatically. Why? Mutual respect. Dad gave it and expected it. He preferred not to use the usual law enforcing methods, instead he opted for a more personal approach; involvement in sports, setting up a boxing gym etc etc.I was always accepted by the local community, even being white.
You may notice I do not mention the word indigenous here. There is a reason for that. As kids we didnt give a rat's posterior what colour we were, we were just mates, pure and simple.
Your problem in QLD is nothing new. This is what segregation and racism creates. You can bounce these kids as often as you like with heavy-handed policing, but it will get you nowhere.
Time to talk to the Elders. That is if they are still talking to you.

[Mobyturns]

Yes it is a complex problem, with many causes and many possible solutions. A young lady I regularly meet has been a volunteer at one of the local PCYC's for quite a few years now. Only a few weeks ago she was saying that she and many of her volunteer mates are very concerned that funding allocations have changed dramatically which means that many of the programs that they are involved in supporting have to be reduced or stopped. Less things for at risk kids to do.

[A Duke]

Hi,
My Gran used to say "The Devil finds work for idle hands", but I think idle minds are a bigger problem and more dangerous.
Regards

[rustynail]

Yes it is a complex problem, with many causes and many possible solutions. A young lady I regularly meet has been a volunteer at one of the local PCYC's for quite a few years now. Only a few weeks ago she was saying that she and many of her volunteer mates are very concerned that funding allocations have changed dramatically which means that many of the programs that they are involved in supporting have to be reduced or stopped. Less things for at risk kids to do.

Tokenism has always been part of the problem. Programs get started, but before too long, funding is cut, staff become jaded and seek greener pasture and the whole thing dies on the vine. Without personal commitment it is hard for anybody to tough it out.
A true story: A couple of years ago I took my wife and kids back to my old home town. It had been 30 years since we left. Sadly, things had deteriorated noticeably. Police paddy wagon patrolled the street constantly. Not much other sign of life.
I left the car at the petrol station and took a stroll down the main drag/memory lane. The patrol car pulled up along side of me and a fat, belligerent looking young copper demanded to know where I thought I was going. I told him, "For a walk to stretch my legs." I was told I could go stretch my legs some place else. I declined. Did I mention belligerence earlier? I was then informed I had ten minutes to get out of town as they already had enough trouble to deal with. I explained I wasn't there to cause trouble, just for a bit of a stroll. I was informed I only had 9 minutes left.
I continued walking. Pulling along side again, the friendly constable went ballistic! Informing me that a fellow officer had recently had a broken bottle held to his throat and told he had an hour to get out of town. I said I knew how he felt and at least he got more than ten minutes. I asked after an old school mate's address and was told, "That coon bastard. Yeah, he's still here." And pointing to the house.
I thanked the officer for his time and said I would go and call on my old mate, doing my utmost to comply with my curfew, but couldnt promise anything. I just got a grunt and the patrol car drove off. Upon reaching the house and knocking, a tall, graying Aboriginal man answered. I asked him if he was who I thought he was. He nodded and asked who I was. I told him and he grabbed me in a bear hug, dragged me inside and slammed the door. I told him about what had happened earlier and he said things had changed dramatically since we had left. None for the better. He was now one of the Elders and had been trying to broker relations between the police and the local youth for some time. Some of the stories he told were horrific.
I collected the family and left the town as directed...be it a little bit late.
One thing was for sure, I much prefered the company of my old school mate than the cop.