The first of three new ACT Policing proactive teams are almost ready to hit the suburbs with a focus on crime disruption, prevention and problem solving.
Announced by the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Mick Gentleman the teams are part of ACT Policing’s new Police Services Model.
“There will be more police officers engaging with the community to pre-emptively identify and prevent crime,” Mr Gentleman said.
“The new model is focussed on crime prevention, with the aim of freeing up our police officers to deliver a more connected, dynamic and community-focussed service,” he said.
“The first team of 10 will be on the ground for the proof-of-concept pilot in September 2020 with additional teams coming over the next two years.”
Mr Gentleman said that in addition to the new teams, the Police Services Model provided additional tools and tech for members, including mobile devices, TASERS and body-worn cameras as well as additional resourcing to provide real-time intelligence out on the road.
ACT Policing’s Detective Superintendent Jason Kennedy is to lead the new team.
“When the team starts, they will be focussed on addressing issues that cause repeat calls for service across the local community,” Detective Superintendent Kennedy said.
“A significant focus for the new Proactive Intervention and Disruption Team will be to work with organisations in the community sector to ensure vulnerable Canberrans most at risk are engaged with appropriate services available to them,” he said.
“We will be focused on identifying at risk people and places, and use problem solving to intervene early and identify solutions in cooperation with our partner agencies.”
Detective Superintendent Kennedy said the team would follow up with individuals to divert them from the criminal justice system before they fell into a life of crime.