Community Safety and Engagement - Queensland Police Service ...

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Personal safety and protective behaviours The Protective Behaviours program aims to enhance the problem-solving and communications skills of people of all ages and encourages individuals to identify unsafe or potentially unsafe situations. In 2008-09 the QPS performed an in-depth review of the Protective Behaviours program. The review identified the need for an enhanced child safety program. The Service is currently considering the adoption of the Safe Start: Protective Behaviours for Children and Young People program. This program seeks to maximise the safety and enhance the wellbeing of children and young people by equipping them and concerned adults, with an awareness of risks and key safety concepts and strategies. Community safety Community Police Beats Neighbourhood Police Beats consist of a police officer working and living from the office/residence within a beat area. The police officer is responsible for addressing the policing needs of the community within that area and research indicates reported crime rates have declined as a result. • an update of the Confident Safe and Secure Handbook and Senior Wiser Safer Directory • translation of these resources into other languages • the development of a seniors’ specific website, providing a one stop shop for seniors to prepare themselves to recognise crime risks and take proactive steps to prevent them. Policing Queensland’s rail networks During the 2008-09 financial year the Police Railway Squad deployed to 191 operations targeting good order offences, fare evasion and criminal activity on the QR Citytrain Network. The Squad conducted over 28 000 hours of network patrols including deployments to major horse racing events, sporting games at Suncorp Stadium and Skilled Park, and concerts at the Boondall Entertainment Centre. During this period a total of 8 737 people of interest were intercepted, with 1 188 people arrested for 2 181 charges and 2 739 infringement notices issued. The Railway Squad also provided specialist support to regional police actions targeting criminal activity along the rail corridor. In 2008-09, two new Neighbourhood Police Beats became operational at Logan Village and Woolloongabba (the Gabba Neighbourhood Police Beat). There are now 60 Neighbourhood Police Beats in Queensland. No new police beats are planned for 2009-10. Safe schools The ‘Policing Schools Program’ encompasses full time School Based Police Officers who are based at 47 secondary schools across the State and Adopt-a- Cops who volunteer their time on a part-time basis to work with their local primary schools. Both programs promote positive relationships between the school community and police. There are currently 35 school based police officer positions and approximately 654 Adopt-a-Cops. School Based Police Officers work in partnership with other areas of the Service and with the school community to develop better relationships, receive better information and provide better safety education outcomes. Safety and security for seniors Two seniors’ forums were held during the year, bringing together government, non-government agencies and community groups to discuss issues affecting seniors and to develop effective strategies. A range of initiatives have been progressed in 2008-09, including: • a police training DVD addressing effective communication with seniors Constable Warren Broughton, also known as ‘Constable Wozza’, has been warmly received by Bundaberg’s St Mary’s Catholic School. Output 1: Community Safety and Engagement With honour we serve 29
Policing Queensland’s waterways Water Police officers provide a policing presence, both proactive and reactive, on and around Queensland waterways. There are 11 full time water police stations throughout the State, in addition to 12 general duties stations in isolated areas which have small vessels. The Service has a fleet of 67 vessels and jet skis. Between December 2008 and January 2009 the statewide operation ‘Summer Safe 2008-2009’ focused on the enforcement of maritime legislation and random breath testing on Queensland waterways. Each Water Police station tailored their operations to address local issues. Close to 1 300 Marine Infringement Notices were issued statewide, with the most prevalent offences being for failing to carry the prescribed safety equipment (30%) and for speeding offences (25%). Inappropriate jet ski activity on the Gold Coast continued to be a significant factor, with 33 notices issued out of a total of 44 statewide. Due to the success of the Summer Safe Operation 2008-09, statewide operations will continue to be planned to target peak boating periods. The Diving Squad’s Side Scan Sonar, so named because it operates from behind a vessel rather than beneath it, proved its worth for use in underwater recovery jobs during this reporting period. The device was successfully used in locating the FV Dynasty which was lost in the Torres Strait in May 2009; a small plane which crashed off the Gold Coast in September 2008; and an unknown sunken commercial fishing vessel off Hervey Bay in June 2009. Since its purchase in October 2007, the Side Scan Sonar has been deployed 35 times with a 100% success rate. The Water Police capabilities were further strengthened during 2008-09 with 18 projects being undertaken under the Vessel Management Program. The Service will undertake 11 projects under this program during the 2009-10 financial year. (More on page 96). Policing Queensland’s diversity The Queensland Government Multicultural Policy ‘Multicultural Queensland—making a world of difference’ is the blueprint for managing diversity for the benefit of all Queenslanders. This Policy requires each government department to produce and publish multicultural action plans which demonstrate how they have integrated multicultural principles and practices into core business, and to report annually on progress and achievements. The QPS Multicultural Action Plan and reporting are available on the QPS website. Some of the highlights gleaned through this reporting mechanism are: Cultural liaison/cultural awareness The Police Liaison Officer (PLO) scheme provides a liaison and consultation interface between culturally diverse communities and the police. PLOs are not sworn police and do not possess police powers. There are currently 152 PLO positions throughout the State, including approximately 24 allocated to discrete Indigenous communities including Horn Island, Mornington Island, Thursday Island, Yarrabah, Palm Island and Woorabinda. While the majority of the positions are occupied by people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds, the scheme has now grown to incorporate officers from a number of other communities including the Sudanese, Pacific Islander, Muslim/Arabic, Vietnamese, Chinese and Australian South Sea Islander communities. PLOs have been active in a number of programs and projects including: • St George Police ‘Re-visit Program’ which received the Queensland Government 2009 Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Award. (More on page 36) • Community of Origin Follow Up program (COFUP) in Townsville which aims to ensure Indigenous prisoners from the outer communities get home safely after being released from Stuart Prison. • ‘Elder patrols’ in the Brisbane City and Fortitude Valley areas. These patrols utilise the skills of respected community members, police officers and PLOs. The ‘team’ engages with members of the community at relevant times to prevent crime, enhance community safety and promote alternative solutions to social problems. Cultural appreciation The Service administers a Cultural Appreciation Project that focuses on education and training for police officers and staff members in relation to policing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. The project team in partnership with the Human Resource Development Branch has: • reviewed the cultural awareness training provided in the Police Recruit Operational Vocational Education Program • revised the three Competency Acquisition program workbooks that deal with Indigenous issues to provide the generic knowledge component of the base package • developed community specific packages for officers who are about to take up positions in specific Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Fourteen community specific information packages, including Aurukun, Cherbourg, Doomadgee, 30 With honour we serve Output 1: Community Safety and Engagement
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