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| Community Policing Partnership (later renamed Crime Prevention Partnerships) was designed by ACRO. CPP was an initiative of the Queensland Government which was piloted in five regions across that State - Thuringowa, Mackay, Sunshine Coast, Logan City and the Gold Coast. CPP drew together the best elements of Partnership development from across the world and combined them in a process of whole-of-government and whole-of-community responsiveness to crime prevention and community safety which is unique. |
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- That criminal justice and social justice are inexorably linked, that is, that social factors (such as family dysfunction and violence, unemployment, sexual exploitation and harassment, racism, cultural intolerance and so forth) are causative to conflict and crime;
- That only through the creation and maintenance of meaningful partnerships within communities (working in tandem with government services and not excluded [nor directed] from them) can any effective community reconnection occur which will reduce social inequity and thereby reduce intolerance, friction and crime;
- That only acting upon the expressed legitimate concerns of ordinary citizens within specific communities can governments utilise its resources, and those of the broader community, to minimise harm caused by social dislocation; and
- That an imperative exists for government departments to collaboratively problem-solve and resource in those social areas nominated by local citizens and not to create Programs that are generalised across the State, which may have partial relevance but not necessarily be responsive to actual "needs".
- affected disadvantaged groups within communities are the "experts" whose input can make a defining difference in addressing problematic behaviour, that is, that such people should be viewed not as the problem but rather part of the solution;
- ordinary citizens are not only capable of understanding the problems within their own community, but often provide meaningful ideas that reduce these problems;
- ordinary citizens want to be engaged in the process of problem definition and solving and are prepared to participate in Projects at a local level
- governments (specifically police personnel) cannot, of themselves, provide the panacea to solve social problems that exist within communities
- social cohesion can only be achieved through a joint-venture commitment by all members of the community whereby a mutually agreed set of objectives are strategically mapped and achieved.
- Surveys of citizen's attitudes and opinions of crime and social issues be undertaken in regions nominated by the State Government. The cost of these Surveys should be met by the participating Local Authorities in order to engender ownership of the process at the local level;
- The results of this Survey will provide the information upon which locally appointed Boards (comprising no more than seven members including the Mayor as Chairperson, the most senior police person in the area and representatives from across the major community sectors - business, media, aboriginal/ethnic, aged, youth and so forth) will act. Those issues that can be resolved locally will be dealt with locally whilst those that cannot, and/or which have a cross-departmental, social justice component will be referred to a Central Board for resolution. As well as the local Boards having clearly defined goals and objectives, individual members of each local Board would be similarly performance driven. Amongst other tasks for these members will be the convening of meetings of stakeholders from within their particular interest group on a regular basis (for example, the police person would bring together all the players from Neighbourhood Watch, Commercial Watch, Adopt a cop, and other such policing initiatives)
- This process would reduce a great deal of time for those who are involved in several of these individual programs as well as bring together like-minded citizens to brainstorm and act as volunteers in the implementation of local Projects prioritised by the Local Boards. The involvement of citizens directly in the problem-solving and implementation process will also provide a much needed focus for groups that are floundering. The work of the local Board will be guided by a co-ordinator funded by the State Government.
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Last Modified: 10/01/2003
© Copyright 2003 ACRO - Australian Community Safety & Research Organisation Incorporated.
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