Published Wednesday, 07 March, 2007 at 09:17 AM
Minister for Police and Corrective Services
The Honourable Judy Spence
WANTED: POLICE SEARCH SOUTHSIDE FOR VIPs
The Queensland Police Service is looking for volunteers from Brisbane’s southern suburbs.
Police Minister Judy Spence said the Volunteers In Policing program has just held a successful recruiting drive and 13 new volunteers will attend a four-day training course this month.
However Ms Spence said police are always looking to expand its reach into the community, especially in the growth suburbs such as Mount Gravatt, Sunnybank, Macgregor.
“This part of Brisbane is home to one of the largest concentrations of multicultural communities in the state,” Ms Spence said.
“As a result the Police Service is keen to get stronger representation from those communities into its Volunteers In Policing program.
“These multicultural communities are continuing to grow, particularly the Muslim and African communities.
“The police service would like to boost safety within all ethnic communities by developing strong partnerships with local police.”
Ms Spence said the Volunteers In Policing program is designed to open up positive lines of communication between community leaders and police.
“Volunteers are being sought on a part time basis to help build these ties,” Ms Spence said.
“These volunteers will complement the services police provide, and to work with police and the community to help address local crime prevention needs.”
Ms Spence said the expansion of the VIP program in Brisbane’s southern suburbs is part of a long-term move to strengthen partnerships with multicultural communities.
“There are now more than 200 volunteers across Queensland who are supporting partnerships between police and the community,” Ms Spence said.
“On the southside, 30 VIPs are based in the Metropolitan South Region, including 19 in the South Brisbane District, six in the Oxley District, four in the Wynnum District and one in the regional office.
“These VIPS come from a range of different backgrounds including Somalia, China, Taiwan, Finland, Croatia and New Zealand.
“As well as providing general support, they are helping police to work within their own communities to help people to understand the law and their rights, and to advise police on important cultural considerations “
Ms Spence said Volunteers in Policing were not a substitute for police officers or paid staff members.
“VIPs come from a wide range of backgrounds including professional people, older retirees, students and other young people wishing to gain additional life skills,” Ms Spence said.
“Each volunteer can spend between four and 16 hours every week to help police in a range of crime prevention initiatives and community-based activities.
“They can also help provide support to victims of crime, conduct home security assessments and engrave property, offer referrals to other agencies and assist with school-based crime prevention projects.”
Ms Spence said that volunteers will be asked to complete an intensive four day training course before being assigned to a police station, where they will be given further orientation training and any necessary job-related skills training.
The Metro South Region will advertise later in the year ahead of the next recruitment drive.
People interested in becoming a Volunteer in Policing can obtain more details at the Queensland Police Service website at www.police.qld.gov.au
Media contact – Sarah Martin 3239 6172/ 0408 732 491
Police Minister Judy Spence said the Volunteers In Policing program has just held a successful recruiting drive and 13 new volunteers will attend a four-day training course this month.
However Ms Spence said police are always looking to expand its reach into the community, especially in the growth suburbs such as Mount Gravatt, Sunnybank, Macgregor.
“This part of Brisbane is home to one of the largest concentrations of multicultural communities in the state,” Ms Spence said.
“As a result the Police Service is keen to get stronger representation from those communities into its Volunteers In Policing program.
“These multicultural communities are continuing to grow, particularly the Muslim and African communities.
“The police service would like to boost safety within all ethnic communities by developing strong partnerships with local police.”
Ms Spence said the Volunteers In Policing program is designed to open up positive lines of communication between community leaders and police.
“Volunteers are being sought on a part time basis to help build these ties,” Ms Spence said.
“These volunteers will complement the services police provide, and to work with police and the community to help address local crime prevention needs.”
Ms Spence said the expansion of the VIP program in Brisbane’s southern suburbs is part of a long-term move to strengthen partnerships with multicultural communities.
“There are now more than 200 volunteers across Queensland who are supporting partnerships between police and the community,” Ms Spence said.
“On the southside, 30 VIPs are based in the Metropolitan South Region, including 19 in the South Brisbane District, six in the Oxley District, four in the Wynnum District and one in the regional office.
“These VIPS come from a range of different backgrounds including Somalia, China, Taiwan, Finland, Croatia and New Zealand.
“As well as providing general support, they are helping police to work within their own communities to help people to understand the law and their rights, and to advise police on important cultural considerations “
Ms Spence said Volunteers in Policing were not a substitute for police officers or paid staff members.
“VIPs come from a wide range of backgrounds including professional people, older retirees, students and other young people wishing to gain additional life skills,” Ms Spence said.
“Each volunteer can spend between four and 16 hours every week to help police in a range of crime prevention initiatives and community-based activities.
“They can also help provide support to victims of crime, conduct home security assessments and engrave property, offer referrals to other agencies and assist with school-based crime prevention projects.”
Ms Spence said that volunteers will be asked to complete an intensive four day training course before being assigned to a police station, where they will be given further orientation training and any necessary job-related skills training.
The Metro South Region will advertise later in the year ahead of the next recruitment drive.
People interested in becoming a Volunteer in Policing can obtain more details at the Queensland Police Service website at www.police.qld.gov.au
Media contact – Sarah Martin 3239 6172/ 0408 732 491