Cairns Homelands Partnership wins National Police Medal

The Queensland Police Service has taken out a major national award at the Australian Crime and Violence Prevention Awards for 2006.

The awards are a national event recognising individuals and organisations in each state and territory that have significantly contributed to reducing crime and raising community awareness of crime and violence prevention.

Acting Communities Minister Kerry Shine said the Queensland Police Service received the prestigious Police Medal for its Homelands Partnership project, which addressed the historical problem of homelessness in Cairns.

“Only two Police Medals were awarded in Australia this year so this is an extraordinary achievement for the Cairns project,” Mr Shine said.

“The Homelands Partnership project is also quite extraordinary in the way that it addresses the issue of local residents feeling unsafe in the central business district.”

Police Minister Judy Spence praised Cairns police on the award.

“The Homelands Partnership won a Queensland Police Service award and a Premier’s award last year, and is an excellent example of the Problem Orientated Policing philosophy endorsed by Queensland officers,” she said.

“Cairns police have addressed historic policing issues within the local area by forming partnerships with concerned community members and key stakeholders through this project.”

The award and certificate of merit were presented to representatives from the Queensland Police Service at an award ceremony at Brisbane’s Royal on the Park today.

Ms Spence said she was pleased to see a total of 15 Queensland crime prevention projects presented with awards at the ceremony.

“The individuals and organisations acknowledged today have become involved in projects and activities that target crime and promote community awareness of crime prevention,” Ms Spence said.

“These Queensland award winners have shown the ability and willingness of communities to come to work together on ways to resolve local crime and violence issues.

“These awards highlight the significant impact each and every one of us can play in ensuring the community we live in is both peaceful and safe.”

The Australian Crime and Violence Prevention Awards were established in 1993 and are a joint initiative of the Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments to recognise individuals, community groups and other organisations that play an active role in preventing or reducing instances of crime and violence.

Mr Shine said the Queensland Government was committed to developing innovative and effective responses to crime and violence prevention in Queensland.

“We acknowledge that the government cannot do it alone and the support of people and organisations such as those who have won awards is invaluable to preventing crime,” he said.

Media contact:Joe Begley (for Minister Shine) 3235 4280