A move by Crime Stoppers Queensland to disband the Far North Area Committee of Crime Stoppers has been slammed by Member for David Kempton, who says the team plays a critical role in the community in the face of youth crime and anti-social behaviour.

And, further frustrating the State representative was the fact the volunteer run committee was axed as Queensland celebrated National Volunteers Week with the theme, "Your Year to Volunteer".

“Crime Stoppers plays a critical role in my community in the face of youth crime and anti-social behaviour,’’ Mr Kempton said.

“To dissolve the volunteer network now seems counterproductive. This band of 50 odd volunteer members working tirelessly and travelling thousands of kilometres each year not only spreading the message of Crime Stoppers, “safety where you live”, but providing support to victims of crime and communities, pulling communities together.

“There are over 2.8 million volunteers in Queensland who do much of the heavy lifting. National Volunteers Week is a celebration of the work these community based super hearts do and a recognition of their commitment, dedication and selfless approach to the communities in which they live in and serve.’’

Mr Kempton said the Far North Area Committee of Crime Stoppers found out during a Teams meeting that Crime Stoppers was transitioning to a centralised, digitally capable operating model moving with the times and dumping decades long dedicated volunteers in favour of a regional ambassador.

“No regional ambassador could possibly cover the 200,000sq km which is my electorate, attend the dozens of community events, foster the relationships, create community cohesion, and give feedback to the central organisation as well as the 50 hardworking volunteers,’’ Mr Kempton said.

“Crime Stoppers has been at pains to point out that there are no changes to how the public can anonymously report information. The Crime Stoppers phone number, online reporting channels and anonymity protections remain the same.

“However, this ill-conceived modernisation of the charity does not consider the connectivity issues of regional and remote communities including my expansive and complex electorate of Cook,” Mr Kempton said.

Since 2019, the Far North Queensland Volunteer Area Committee of Crime Stoppers has fostered community safety and supported Crime Stoppers’ Queensland initiatives throughout the region.

“There was an existing Cairns committee, but as my electorate is unique in its remoteness, events and connectivity the FNQ Volunteer Area Committee was created to promote Crime Stoppers throughout the vast northern area including Mareeba, the north-eastern reaches of the Gulf of Carpentaria, Cape York and the Torres Strait.”