Minister for Police and Emergency Services

The Honourable Dan Purdie

25 May 2026

MEDIA STATEMENT: More than 3,500 arrests and 9,000 charges in three months of Operation Forge

  • Operation Forge reaches its halfway mark after nearly 90 days of high-visibility police operations across Queensland, with thousands charged as part of the Crisafulli Government’s plan to restore safety where you live. 
  • Police have arrested 3,526 offenders and laid 9,106 charges since 27 February.
  • The Crisafulli Government is making Queensland safer, delivering more police to the frontline and driving down the number of victims of crime after Labor’s weak laws created a generation of serious repeat offenders and Labor’s Youth Crime Crisis.  

More than 3,500 offenders – including serious and repeat offenders – have been charged with more than 9,000 offences under Operation Forge, as the Crisafulli Government continues to turn the tide on Labor’s Youth Crime Crisis.  

Since launching on 27 February, the high-visibility policing operation has targeted repeat and serious offenders responsible for the most harm in Queensland communities – including break-ins, robberies and stolen vehicle offences – after the number of victims of crime skyrocketed 193 per cent under the former Labor Government.  

The former Labor Government watered-down Queensland’s crime laws during their decade of decline, which created a generation of serious repeat offenders, and saw crime increase by 27 per cent.  

In just under 90 days, Operation Forge has seen 3,526 people charged with 9,106 offences including:

  • 645 people charged with 1,678 offences in the South Brisbane district;
  • 514 people charged with 1,108 offences in the North Brisbane district;
  • 229 people charged with 545 offences in the Capricornia district;
  • 237 people charged with 710 offences in the Darling Downs district;
  • 379 people charged with 808 offences in the Gold Coast district;
  • 435 people charged with 1,038 offences in the Far North district;
  • 163 people charged with 324 offences in the Ipswich district;
  • 310 people charged with 551 offences in the Logan district;
  • 109 people charged with 197 offences in the Mackay Whitsunday district;
  • 84 people charged with 153 offences in the Mount Isa district;
  • 291 people charged with 689 offences in the Moreton district;
  • 51 people charged with 94 offences in the South West district;
  • 159 people charged with 272 offences in the Sunshine Coast district;
  • 261 people charged with 626 offences in the Townsville district;
  • 134 people charged with 313 offences in the Wide Bay Burnett district.

Today’s halfway milestone comes as the Crisafulli Government continues delivering stronger laws and more police to the frontline after Labor’s decade of decline, which saw the Youth Crime Crisis spiral across Queensland. 

More than 1,600 new officers have joined the Queensland Police Service since the 2024 election, strengthening the frontline beyond 13,000 officers for the first time in the State’s history.  

The Crisafulli Government has already delivered a 7.2 per cent reduction in the number of victims of crime in 2025 compared with the previous year, while police attrition has fallen to 2.6 per cent – the lowest level in five years. 

Minister for Police and Emergency Services Dan Purdie said the Crisafulli Government was restoring safety where you live.  

“Every one of these arrests means fewer dangerous offenders on our streets, fewer homes and businesses being broken into, and show how we are restoring safety where you live,” Minister Purdie said.  

“3,526 arrests in 90 days across the State, and victim numbers down 7.2 per cent, are positive early signs, but we know there is still more work to be done to undo a decade of Labor’s weak laws that created a generation of serious repeat offenders.  

“We are delivering exactly as we promised and we will continue to deliver more police and stronger laws to make Queensland safer and fight Labor’s Youth Crime Crisis.”  

Queensland Police Acting Commissioner Brett Pointing said Operation Forge has delivered a sustained and coordinated policing response across the state. 

“We continue to target the crimes that impact everyday Queenslanders the most,” Acting Commissioner Pointing said. 

“These results are being driven by data and intelligence, with local police continuously adapting their response to keep pace with crime trends. 

“Our focus is on preventing, disrupting and responding to crime by targeting repeat offenders and those causing the greatest harm across our communities. 

“I want to thank everyone involved for their professionalism and commitment to achieve these outcomes.” 

ENDS 

MEDIA CONTACT: Nat Gradwell, 0449 186 116