Evidence refutes claims of youth crime wave, former Queensland children’s court boss says

John Robertson warns lumping together all children in contact with the justice system risks undermining community safety

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The former president of the Queensland children’s court, John Robertson, says statistics “completely refute” the notion there is a major youth crime wave in the state, and warned that even “half an hour in a watch house” can be damaging to a child.

Next week, the state will debate proposed new legislation that includes measures to charge children with criminal offences for breaching bail conditions. The government will override its own Human Rights Act, claiming exceptional circumstances, to pass the bill.

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