Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has signalled his government is considering significant changes to the state’s policing laws, including expanding police powers to collect DNA from youth offenders and overhauling long-standing restrictions on police pursuits as part of a broader effort to combat repeat juvenile crime.

The proposed reforms were discussed during the Queensland Police Union conference, where Crisafulli confirmed his government was actively examining recommendations aimed at strengthening investigative powers available to frontline officers.

Among the most closely watched proposals is a plan to allow routine DNA collection from certain youth offenders in circumstances where police believe the information could assist criminal investigations.

At present, Queensland police cannot routinely collect DNA from juvenile offenders for intelligence databases in the same way they can from adults. Instead, officers generally require a court order linked to a specific offence before samples can be obtained.

Asked whether his government would consider changing those laws, Crisafulli indicated he was open to reform.

“The issue about the collection of evidence is something which Dan Purdie has raised. I’m open minded to it, very open minded to it,” the Premier said, referring to Queensland Police Minister Dan Purdie, who has been leading discussions on possible legislative changes.

Queensland Police Union president Shane Prior strongly endorsed the proposal.

He argued that repeat youth offenders should face the same forensic identification processes as adults.

“If they’re old enough to become serial offenders, they’re old enough to have their DNA collected,” Prior said, contending that equal treatment would improve police investigations and help solve additional offences committed by repeat offenders.

The DNA proposal forms part of a wider package of potential policing reforms currently under consideration.

The government is also reviewing Queensland’s police pursuit policy, which has been heavily criticised by police representatives who argue existing restrictions sometimes prevent officers from safely apprehending offenders attempting to flee.

Current pursuit guidelines were substantially tightened in 2011 following several fatal incidents involving police chases.

Under the existing framework, officers may initiate or continue pursuits only under limited circumstances where the public safety risks are judged to be justified.

Police representatives argue that criminal offenders have increasingly exploited those restrictions by fleeing in the belief that officers will terminate pursuits before arrests can be made.

The Queensland Police Union is seeking broader legal protection for officers involved in pursuits and wants legislative changes that would place greater responsibility on fleeing offenders for any injuries or damage resulting from their attempts to evade police.

The union has also proposed expanding officers’ authority to use tactical vehicle intervention techniques, including boxing in stationary vehicles under a wider range of operational circumstances.

Crisafulli indicated that both the DNA proposal and pursuit policy review remain under active consideration rather than representing final government policy.

He emphasised that public safety would remain the central consideration in any legislative reforms ultimately brought before Parliament.

The proposals align with the Queensland Government’s broader election commitment to strengthen youth justice laws following sustained public concern over repeat juvenile offending.

Since taking office, the Crisafulli Government has introduced several tougher youth justice measures, arguing that community safety must become the overriding priority when dealing with serious repeat offenders.

Supporters of the latest proposals say forensic DNA databases have become one of the most effective investigative tools available to modern policing.

They argue that extending DNA collection to repeat youth offenders could help police solve burglaries, vehicle thefts, violent offences and other crimes more quickly, while potentially deterring repeat offending through increased likelihood of detection.

Police representatives also contend that equal forensic treatment for serious youth offenders reflects the reality that some juvenile offenders commit multiple serious crimes over extended periods.

Critics, however, have raised important legal and ethical concerns.

Some criminal law experts caution that expanding DNA collection powers involving children requires careful safeguards to ensure proportionality, privacy protections and appropriate judicial oversight.

They argue that juvenile justice systems have traditionally recognised the greater capacity of young people for rehabilitation and therefore require stronger protections than those applying to adult offenders.

Child advocacy organisations have also previously argued that any expansion of police powers affecting minors should be supported by clear evidence demonstrating that the measures improve community safety without unnecessarily compromising the rights of young people.

The debate reflects a broader policy challenge confronting governments across Australia.

Several states have strengthened youth justice legislation in response to community concerns about repeat offending, while simultaneously facing calls to preserve rehabilitation principles that have long underpinned juvenile justice systems.

Queensland has been at the centre of that national discussion in recent years.

Public concern over youth crime has remained one of the state’s most politically significant issues, particularly in regional communities where repeat offending has received extensive public attention.

Both major political parties have proposed tougher responses, although they have often differed on the balance between punishment, prevention and rehabilitation.

The proposed DNA reforms therefore represent another step in the evolving debate over how Australia’s criminal justice system should respond to serious youth offending.

If implemented, Queensland would move closer to treating repeat juvenile offenders similarly to adults for certain forensic identification purposes, while still maintaining separate youth justice processes in other areas of criminal law.

Whether Parliament ultimately adopts the proposals will depend on the final legislation prepared by the government following consultation with police, legal experts and relevant stakeholders.

For now, Crisafulli has made clear that his government is willing to examine stronger policing powers as part of its broader strategy to reduce youth crime and improve community safety.

As policy work continues, debate is expected to focus not only on the effectiveness of expanded DNA collection but also on how Queensland can balance public protection with the legal rights afforded to children within Australia’s justice system.