Re JRP

Police Prosecutions applied for a review of a decision by a Magistrate to grant bail to the respondent, a juvenile with a significant criminal history, who was on bail for charges including entering a dwelling and committing an indictable offence, and unlawful use of a motor vehicle. The alleged offending involved breaking into a residential property and using a stolen vehicle from this property. The court had to decide if the bail granted to the respondent should be revoked.

The court considered whether the respondent’s bail endangered the safety of the community, if there was an unacceptable risk that the child would commit an offence that endangered the safety of the community, and if it was not practicable to mitigate that risk by imposing particular conditions. The court found that the nature and seriousness of the alleged offending, coupled with the respondent’s significant criminal history, justified a finding that the respondent endangered the safety of the community. The court also found that it was not practicable to adequately mitigate the risk by imposing particular conditions.

The order issued in the Townsville Children’s Court on 8 February 2022 granting bail to the child was revoked. A warrant was issued for the apprehension of the child to appear before the Children’s Court at Townsville, and the child was remanded in custody.