DETECTIVES may have called time on their graffiti blitz, but that does not mean offenders will no longer be targeted.

That was the warning from Acting Sergeant Tod Dodson who headed Operation Longwood, which focused on juvenile graffiti offenders.

The operation netted 22 youths on 722 charges and ran for a month.

"Even though the operation is closed, we will still work to combat graffiti when it pops up," Acting Sgt Dodson said.

The large number of charges were a key reason in the spike in results for Operation Hastings, which runs for a year and targets all juvenile crime.

Cairns Child Protection and Investigation Unit Detective Senior-Sergeant Glenn Horan said since the start of the operation in July there had been 160 youths charged with 1130 offences. However, October saw 51 juveniles charged with 573 offences, many of which could be attributed to Longwood.

"Apart from that breakout month it's been pretty consistent with 30 to 60 charges a month," he said.

Sen-Sgt Horan said the operation results showed the majority of recidivist offenders were aged between 14-16.

Operation Longwood (complete) Offenders: 22, Charges: 722

Operation Hastings (ongoing) Offenders 160, Charges: 1130.

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