Taskforce Viper, a police initiative targeting repeat offenders in Launceston, has charged 18 individuals with over 80 separate offences in its first two weeks of operation.
The taskforce focuses on reducing offending in the city’s CBD and is part of a statewide effort to combat repeat offenders, police say.
The majority of the charges laid were related to theft, property offences and assaults in public places.
Detective Acting Inspector Aleena Crack said the Launceston community deserved to feel safe and said police will “continue to target repeat offenders” responsible for multiple crimes in the CBD.
“These taskforces are established when we identify an area of concern or a specific increase in crime trends,” she said.
Recent incidents in the CBD, including fights involving knives and assaults on business owners, prompted the reestablishment of Taskforce Viper and an increased police presence in the city.
“While we live in a very safe city and state, there are people who continue to do the wrong thing. And in some instances, those increases in crime we identify are influenced by a small number of repeat offenders.”
“We are committed to holding those offenders to account, and increasing community confidence in public places.”
