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WA Police’s two winners at this year’s National Crime and Violence Prevention Awards were recognised alongside five other WA-based award recipients at a state ceremony in Perth on 2 December.
Speaking at the ceremony, Strategy and Performance Acting Director James Alex said the two police initiatives – Rockingham PCYC’s Weld to Life program and the Fitzroy Crossing Brighter Future project – showed the positive changes that could be achieved when police worked closely with the community.
“Both these initiatives are great examples of collaborative efforts between police and community organisations and leaders to achieve more than they could have done working separately,” he said. “The other five award recipients also deserve our respect, because they’re excellent examples of communities actively working to prevent crime.”
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Acting Director Strategy and Performance James Alex addresses attendees at the ceremony. |
Rockingham PCYC’s Weld for Life program, an intervention strategy for young priority offenders, teaches valuable trade skills in a hands-on environment. The program is run in close collaboration with a range of major government and private sponsors and has achieved significant results among participants, including a five-fold reduction in school absenteeism. More than 80% of the Weld for Life participants engaged in further training, returned to school or gained employment after completing the program.
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Rockingham PCYC’s Senior Constable Tim Ellis, who got the program off the ground, said the results spoke for themselves.
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“We’ve seen an 83% reduction in offences committed by the kids nine months after they’ve completed the program,” he said. “That’s a lot of young people who have a much more positive future ahead of them, compared to where they were headed when they first came to us.”
Fitzroy Crossing’s Brighter Future project was initiated by the Fitzroy Valley Alcohol and Drug Management Committee, which includes representatives from WA Police, and involves close collaboration between police, community members and local elders to strictly limit alcohol consumption in the town.
The program, supported by a public awareness campaign including signage to inform visitors of the restrictions, has made a significant impact on the quality of life in the township of 3500 people. An evaluation report prepared by the University of Notre Dame showed an 11% decrease in drink driving offences and a 28% decrease in reported domestic violence in the initiative’s first six months.
The Weld for Life program was awarded a $15,000 grant while Fitzroy Crossing’s Brighter Future initiative received $10,000. The grants will support the programs into the future. For more details visit the Australian Crime and Violence Prevention Awards website.
