There are renewed calls for the State Government to host a youth crime summit on the Gold Coast following the tragic murder of a mum in north Brisbane.
Two 17-year-old boys have been charged with murder, following the stabbing death of 41-year-old Emma Lovell in an alleged home invasion in North Lakes on Monday night.
The Gold Coast’s Acting Mayor Donna Gates has told myGC it is an unimaginable tragedy, and that the State Government must step up.
“It’s the most tragic thing and so devastating that those children in North Lakes have lost their mum to a violent crime,”
“Those people were just in their home asleep, working hard and raising their family. It’s just shocking.”
Acting Mayor Gates says the Gold Coast and wider community has had enough.
“The community is demanding a voice on these issues and the best way to allow everyone to be heard is through a youth crime summit, open to everyone,” Acting Mayor Gates says.
“The summit can only be driven by the State Government as the key response agencies – police, children’s services, social housing and the courts – are all under the guidance of state legislation,
“A summit can achieve two key outcomes: ensure the community’s voice is heard, and seek to find alternative actions to address these hard-core repeat offenders.”
It’s alleged the accused were known to local police and were out on bail, with a fresh plea to the State Government to take action.
“The alleged youth offenders were known to police which confirms what we all know – that the vast majority of these dangerous crimes are being committed by a core group of repeat youth offenders,”
“The courts must reflect community sentiment and my opinion is that the community has absolutely had enough of these repeat offenders,
“The hard-working police know that within a matter of hours, they will again be in contact with these offenders. The courts must back our police and importantly, the courts have to reflect community expectations.”
Council is pushing for better use of GPS trackers and for youth offenders to be refused bail.
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