Gold Coast projects win awards for preventing crime

Five Gold Coast projects were recognised today at the Australian Crime and Violence Prevention Awards for the positive contribution they have made to preventing crime.

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.

Five certificates of merit were awarded to Gold Coast projects, with the Gold Coast City Council receiving Queensland’s top cash prize of $7000 for its Active and Healthy Gold Coast program.

Acting Communities Minister Kerry Shine said winners from the Gold Coast had made a positive contribution to community safety and crime prevention and recognition of their positive efforts was important.

“From graffiti prevention and motor vehicle theft reduction to the development of safer amenities, this year’s winners have all shown a willingness to prevent crime locally,” Mr Shine said.

“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 it was important to acknowledge the efforts of community, business and government to reduce crime and violence.

“The Queensland Government acknowledges it has a role to play in crime prevention and, since 1999, has developed a range of crime prevention programs and initiatives,” he said.

“This is part of the government’s ongoing commitment to developing innovative and effective responses to crime and violence prevention in Queensland.

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“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.”

This year’s winners from the Gold Coast are:

·Certificate of merit and $7000:

Gold Coast City Council for its Active and Healthy Gold Coast program.

The program aims to address crime and violence in public spaces by reducing opportunities for crime and the fear of crime by offering free or low-cost training.

·Certificate of merit:

Domestic Violence Prevention Centre, Gold Coast for Project SAFER.

The project aims to improve police responses to domestic violence and draws on international policing responses from the United States and Canada.

·Certificate of merit:

Gold Coast City Council for its Graffiti – Let’s Get it Together program.

The program aims to improve perceptions of safety by reducing the amount of graffiti throughout the Gold Coast. The program includes strategies such as community education, free graffiti removal kits, and safety audits of key hotspot sites to reduce opportunities for crime.

·Certificate of merit:

Gold Coast City Council for its Safer Amenity by Design program.

The program was established to address the growing concerns from the community and the Gold Coast City Council about the safety of existing public facilities.

·Certificate of merit:

Gold Coast City Council and the National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council for the Operation Bounceback project.

The project aimed to reduce the incidence of car theft on the Gold Coast, which is ranked as one of the hot spots for car theft in Australia.

11 December 2006

Media contact: Joe Begley 3235 4280