Tasmania Police and Glenorchy City Council are championing the positive impact a high-visibility policing taskforce effort is having in the community.
Recent police data has shown a 16% reduction in total offences in the Glenorchy division over the past 12 months.
There were 4,578 total offences in the 2023-24 financial year, compared with 3,848 total offences in the 2024-25 financial year, while youth offences fell to 731 in 2024-25 – a reduction of 21%.
Taskforce Respect was rolled out in May, targeting anti-social behaviour in Glenorchy. Police Inspector Jason Klug said the results since the implementation of Taskforce Respect had been particularly encouraging.
“What we’ve seen in regard to calls for police assistance in the CBD is that our calls have reduced by about 40% since the introduction of Taskforce Respect, so these are some really positive figures,” Inspector Klug said.
“But we’re not going to take our foot off the pedal.
“We’re going to continue the hard work that we’re doing. We’re going to continue working with our partners across the Glenorchy area to ensure that our community is safe, and feels safe, and enjoys the wonderful public spaces we have.”
Inspector Klug said community engagement and collaboration with local business and the Glenorchy City Council was key to making a positive change.
Supporting police, Mayor Sue Hickey thanked officers from Taskforce Respect and the wider police service for their work in targeting anti-social behaviour and retail crime in Glenorchy, and backed the continuation of the taskforce.
She said the council would continue to deliver programs to help reduce crime and anti-social behaviour, including a youth engagement program with additional activities on offer in the school holiday period.
“Seeing our youth engagement officers and police working directly with young people, whether it’s by having a game of street basketball or just being available for a quiet chat and understanding any issues they may be dealing with, is something I am particularly proud of as Mayor,” she said.
“Our young people are part of our community too, and they do not deserve to be tarnished by the same brush wielded by a minority of their peers who do the wrong thing.”
Mayor Hickey said council youth engagement staff would be running basketball sessions in the Glenorchy CBD each day of the school holidays, with other school holiday activities available at the Moonah Arts Centre, ranging from beatboxing workshops to art programs.
These activities can be accessed by visiting the Moonah Arts Centre website – www.moonahartscentre.org.au.
