Police and community combine for Aurukun win

Police and community combine for Aurukun win

Last month Commissioner of Police Ian Stewart announced the winners of the 2017 Queensland Police Service Awards for Excellence in Brisbane.

The Far North took out the Gold Award for Performance Category for the Aurukun Policing Model in the Performance category.

In the past, the community of Aurukun has attracted widespread media coverage around community unrest and tensions.

In response, local police have introduced a number of important initiatives to assist the community to get back on track and into a far more positive pathway for the future.

Aurukun Police are one of the lead agencies for the Aurukun response and local police have continued to work closely as a team both in terms of their own and with the Aurukun Community.

Officer in Charge of Aurukun Police, Senior Sergeant Brett Jenkins said the level of change made in just over twelve months has demonstrated professional excellence, high performance service delivery and a combined community effort to take out the win at the QPS awards for excellence.

“The Aurukun Policing response process has required genuine collaboration with individuals across many agencies,” Senior Sergeant Brett Jenkins said.

“Individuals and organisations demonstrating an outstanding commitment to professional excellence and high performance in service delivery have gone above and beyond to ensure an effective service model was implemented for the benefit of the Aurukun community.”

A number of initiatives have contributed to the positive results which have ultimately exceed community expectations.

Some of which include officers tackling high rates of vehicle theft in the community. Since October 2016, no vehicles have been stolen in the community.

The Aurukun PCYC opened in July 2016, providing a modern and functional PCYC building staffed by enthusiastic police officers, police liaison officers, sport and recreation officers.

They’ve introduced a number of programs for the community which have been well received.

Local police attend the local school each morning and actively engage in school activities with teacher and students.

They also conduct high visibilty foot patrols throughout the community including the business precinct and hotspot areas.

The incidents of volatile substance misuse has stopped and the Speak Up Be Strong Be Heard protective behaviour and education program has seen positive community engagement with local children.

Senior Sergeant Jenkins said one of the main success for the community derives from the Aurukun Community Values document.

“Through engagement and collaboration these community driven values reflect real and genuine ownership by the Aurukun Community to overcome real community problems,” Senior Sergeant Jenkins said.

“The Aurukun Community Values statement contributes to a complete turnaround in community attitudes and behaviours which is reflective of the community wanting to move forward.

“Feedback from local community members reflects a very positive outlook for the future of Aurukun and future generations.”

Source: Cairns Crime Alert