An innovative police initiative in Normanton has been acknowledged on a national level.
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“Policing Indigenous Youth—Achieving through Adversity” won a silver award in the police-led category of the 2016 Australian Crime and Violence Prevention Awards (ACVPA).
The ACVPAs recognise good practice in the prevention or reduction of violence and other types of crime in Australia.
Senior Sergeant Duane Amos, Officer in Charge, Normanton, who went to Canberra last week to accept the award said the Policing Indigenous Youth project aimed to create a culture of trust between police and Indigenous youth aged 9 to 16 to help divert them from crime, and reduce the risk of recidivism among offenders.
Senior Sergeant Amos took over in Normanton in 2011 and he said there were poor relations between police and community at the time, particularly with youth.
“We wanted to turn every negative contact we had with youth into a positive expereince,” Senior Sergeant Amos said.
“For instance with bike helmets we focussed on kids who were doing the right thing and give them a nominal award.”
At the end of the year kids who were in the running could nominate what award they wanted to win.
“It gave them some level of control and we would recognise them,” he said.
Senior Sergeant Amos said their strategy of positive engagement is still continuing.
“Youth and police are encouraged to interact daily through schooling, recreation and their day to day activities,” said Senior Sergeant Amos said.
“Winning the award is important recognition for the Queensland Police Service, who have been working for over five years in our community to provide youth with a pathway other than crime, through mentoring and relationship building.”
“The Policing Indigenous Youth project has resulted in marked reductions in youth crime, and increased attendance levels and improved behaviour at school,” acting Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) Director, Chris Dawson said.
“I wish the Queensland Police Service well with its efforts to develop an evidence-based framework for implementing this successful approach in other remote communities.”
The projects are assessed each year by the ACVPA Board, which consists of senior law enforcement representatives from each state and territory police service and is chaired by the AIC Director.
The awards are a joint initiative of the Australian, state and territory governments, coordinated by the AIC and co-sponsored by the Law, Crime and Community Safety Council.