Reframing Relationships to Reduce Crime: Long-Term Review of a QPS Initiative for First Nations скачать в хорошем качестве

Reframing Relationships to Reduce Crime: Long-Term Review of a QPS Initiative for First Nations

Event: 2025 Applied Research in Crime and Justice Conference Date: 5 August 2025 Name of presenter: Rebekah Chapman & Deborah Kelso, Queensland Police Service Title: Reframing relationships and reducing crime: The long-term evaluation of a Queensland Police Service protective security initiative for First Nations communities A new approach to protective security and community safety in the First Nations community of Palm Island was introduced in 2020 by the Queensland Police Service (QPS). This initiative sees local community members employed in QPS Protective Services Officer roles, providing security services to government facilities on Palm Island. A short-term evaluation of the initiative found reductions in reported offences, increased perceptions of community safety and enhanced sharing of intelligence with police. In 2024, the QPS Research & Evaluation unit commenced a long-term evaluation of the initiative, to understand key successes and challenges associated with ongoing operation and to identify sustained benefits. A mixed methods approach, incorporating in-depth interviews with First Nations Protective Services Officers, community representatives and stakeholders, police officers, and Protective Services leadership, as well as security incident and crime data, enabled exploration of key evaluation areas including safety and crime prevention, employment, role perceptions, recruitment and training, and governance and sustainability. The findings of this research will inform future implementation of this initiative as it expands into other First Nations communities across Queensland. This presentation will focus on key evaluation findings and provide context to the challenges and benefits of conducting research with First Nations communities.