The State Flying Squad is making its presence felt across the Far North, with the rapid‑response police unit stepping in to support local officers and crack down on crime.
Since early 2025, the squad has been deployed 21 times in the region, helping charge more than 800 people as part of a sustained push to restore community safety.
Detective Inspector Joe Nixon says the squad’s strength is its ability to move quickly, bringing specialist officers into hotspots and giving local crews the extra investigative power they need. Speaking in Cairns, he said the team’s intelligence‑driven approach has been crucial in tackling everything from property crime to serious repeat offending.
The recent Kuranda operation shows how fast the squad can deliver results. In just a few days, officers charged 10 offenders, wrapped up 21 case files and provided more than 200 hours of support to the local station. Police say the surge helped stabilise a spike in break‑ins and anti‑social behaviour.
Since launching in January 2025, the State Flying Squad has become a key part of the Far North’s crime‑fighting strategy, with more than 2,200 offences recorded across its deployments.
