State Flying Squad marks first year with nearly 2,000 arrests statewide

The Queensland Government's strengthened State Flying Squad has marked its first year of frontline operations, recording more than 100 deployments and laying almost 6,000 charges against serious and repeat offenders across the state.

In its inaugural 12 months, the specialist police unit arrested 1,998 people and charged them with 5,957 offences, following 104 targeted deployments into crime hotspots. Of those arrested, 1,187 were youths.

Designed to move rapidly and reinforce local policing efforts, the State Flying Squad is the largest rapid response unit in Queensland's history, providing surge capacity to areas experiencing elevated crime and helping restore community safety.

The most frequent deployments occurred in the Far North District, with 19 operations, followed by 18 in the Townsville District and 13 across the Darling Downs District.

The 58-officer unit is triple the size of previous flying squads and is supported by $32.4 million in funding. The expansion replaces the former practice of drawing officers from other specialist units, including homicide and child protection, to fill short-term gaps.

Minister for Police and Emergency Services Dan Purdie said the expanded squad was delivering the rapid response capability frontline police had long called for.

"The State Flying Squad gives police the ability to move quickly, flood crime hotspots and provide immediate backup to local officers," Minister Purdie said.
"Under the Crisafulli Government, police are no longer stretched thin. We're giving them the resources they need to reduce crime and limit the number of victims across Queensland."

He said the results demonstrated the effectiveness of targeted deployments, with increased arrests and charges translating to fewer offenders on the streets.

Deputy Commissioner Cheryl Scanlon praised the squad's contribution to community safety, describing the results as a strong foundation for ongoing operations.

"Over the past year, the expanded State Flying Squad has delivered strong outcomes through intelligence-led, targeted deployments," Deputy Commissioner Scanlon said.
"The squad boosts frontline capacity and provides investigative support that enhances local policing operations."

Detective Inspector Joe Nixon said the results reflected the dedication and expertise of the officers involved.

"Our highly skilled officers work tirelessly alongside local police and specialist teams to maintain pressure on criminal activity," Detective Inspector Nixon said.
"We will continue to deploy wherever and whenever needed to reduce harm and improve safety for Queensland communities."