Kimberley crime stats drastically down two-weeks into special operation

Operation Regional Shield has been a success with Kimberley Police boasting a 79 per cent decrease in burglaries and car thefts in Broome along with other property crime.

Kununurra has also seen a dramatic decrease in property crime of 67 per cent in the short time since operational regional shield has been deployed.

During the operation, police have arrested 50 offenders and laid 103 charges against them.

But WA Police Kimberley district superintendent Craig Parkin said in a statement policing was only part of the solution and sustainable multi-agency responses are required to curb the youth crime wave.

Police identified 192 children they believed to be at-risk, 28 of which were under the age of ten.

Supt Parkin said many had been found on the streets in the early hours of the morning, and were considered to be in danger of not just offending, but of being victims of crime themselves.

“WA Police will continue to respond to significant community issues such as youth crime and children-at-risk but this is only part of the solution,” he said.

“Sustainable multi-agency responses are required and we would like to acknowledge the support from Department of Education during Operation Regional Shield to ensure children located during school hours are transitioned back into the classroom.

“Additional police resources have been deployed to Derby, Fitzroy Crossing and Halls Creek to support local police.”

Operation regional shield launched on 15 February in response to a youth crime wave egged on by a social media challenge where young children and teens would try to one up their peers by committing more severe crimes.

More than 30 extra officers, drones, canine units and other police resources were been deployed to the North West as part of the month-long operation.