New task force to tackle Gold Coast crime

An Australian police officer died in a shooting at this tavern on the Gold Coast. Photo / Richard Gosling, Gold Coast Bulletin

A new squad to fight violent crime on the Gold Coast - announced two days after the shooting death of Detective Senior Constable Damian Leeding - is a "bittersweet" move, say Queensland police.

Task Force Resolve will target the worst crimes in the Logan and Gold Coast areas, where Det Leeding was shot in the face during a tavern hold-up on Sunday.

His family on Wednesday switched off his life support and has since been overwhelmed by a groundswell of sympathy from police and the public.

Queensland police on Friday ran out of blue ribbons, which people have been buying to show their support for the state's officers.

Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson on Friday said the group of 18 detectives who will make up the task force would start work next week, providing specialist support on violent crime investigations.

Mr Atkinson denied it was an admission police hadn't worked hard enough on armed robberies, saying there had been a 50 per cent clearance rate on the Gold Coast.

"What it reflects is our concern over the level of crime on the Gold Coast," he said.

"This region has more crime than any of the other seven regions in Queensland."

But Det Leeding's death had played a part in the move, he said.

"Certainly this tragedy had brought it forward, perhaps earlier than it might have," Mr Atkinson said.

Police were also considering how to pay tribute to the dedicated father-of-two, possibly naming a building after him.

Police Union president Ian Leavers said the formation of the task force was a "bittersweet" development.

"I've been calling for a squad to tackle serious and organised crime on the Gold Coast for months now," he told reporters.

"Although this will not bring Damian back, it will stop another family going through the pain and the heartbreak that Damian's family and friends have."

The opposition last month promised such a squad for the Gold Coast and responded to the announcement by calling it a government backflip.

Police spokesman John-Paul Langbroek said it was a shame it took the government so long to take action.

"It's taken a spate of armed and violent robberies, and a groundswell of community anger to force the premier and the minister to finally act," he said.

Premier Anna Bligh, who had met with Mr Atkinson after Det Leeding's shooting on Sunday to check if police resources were adequate, said she supported the decision to go ahead with the task force.

"It is my hope that this squad will assist in bringing those responsible for the spate of armed robberies across the region so far this year to justice, while deterring others from engaging in criminal activity," she said.

- AAP