Kununurra police surge sparks debate over proactive youth crime solutions

A high-profile police chase in Kununurra prompted the deployment of additional officers, while local leaders argue that a long-term youth facility is still needed.

A viral video showing a teenage driver fleeing police in Kununurra has drawn national attention and resulted in the dispatch of two additional police teams under the state’s Operation Regional Shield. While the Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley president praised the extra resources, he stressed that the community needs proactive interventions rather than temporary police rotations. The government’s proposed Kununurra Night Space, a $5.9 million facility intended to provide supervised evening activities for at-risk youth, remains months away from opening and has encountered opposition over its proposed site on an abandoned sandalwood plantation.

Corrective Services Minister Tony Buti said discussions with stakeholders continue and highlighted safety benefits of the chosen location on Ivanhoe Road. WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch warned that youth crime tends to flare up cyclically, and Kimberley District Superintendent John Hutchsion urged residents to report incidents to Crime Stoppers as police increase targeted patrols.