Frontline Policing

Project aims and objectives:

This Project is concerned with understanding the dynamics of policing – in a broad sense – in key ‘frontline’ areas involving the law enforcement and crime prevention activities of police officers and security providers. Project members are conducting research across a range of specific topics including use of force, crime prevention (including ATM robberies, cash-in-transit robberies, and welfare fraud), and safety issues in policing operations (including public safety and the safety of police and security officers). The following lists work published in 2011.

• Alpert, G. & Rojek, J. (2011). Frontline police officer assessments of risks and decision-making during encounters with offenders. CEPS Briefing Paper, 5, 1-6.
• Ferguson, P., Prenzler, T., Sarre, R., & de Caires, B. (2011). Police and security officer experiences of occupational violence and injury in Australia. International Journal of Police Science and Management, 13(3), 223-233.
• Punter, H. (August 2011). Move-on Powers in Queensland: Key Policy and Practice Issues, ARC Centre of Excellence in Policing and Security Briefing Paper.
• Prenzler, T. (2011). Responding to welfare fraud: The Australian experience. Consultancy Report to the Australian Institute of Criminology, Canberra, pp. 1-116.
• Prenzler, T. (2011). Welfare fraud in Australia: Dimensions and issues. Trends and Issues in Crime and Criminal Justice, 421, 1-6.
• Prenzler, T. (2011). Detecting and preventing welfare fraud. Trends and Issues in Crime and Criminal Justice, 418, 1-6.
• Prenzler, T. (2011). Strike Force Piccadilly and ATM security: A Follow up study. Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice, 5(3), 236-247.
• Prenzler, T., & Sarre, R. (2011). Public-private crime prevention partnerships in Australia. Crime Prevention and Policy: New Tools for Contemporary Challenges. Australian Institute of Criminology Conference. Sydney. 23-24 November.

Within the Frontline Policing project, resources have been focused on two key sub-projects, the large-scale ‘Use of Force Project’ and the ‘Cash-in-Transit Project’ (see below).

Use of Force Project

Public interest in policing and associated accountability mechanisms is growing, hence making it an ideal time to examine how and why police use force. So far, only limited research has been conducted into police use of force in the Australasian context.

The Use of Force Project aims to address a gap in Australasian policing research by examining current Use of Force practices of Australian Police services across differing jurisdictions. In partnership with the Queensland Police Service (QPS), this project endeavours to:
• Review the literature, policy and legislation, as well as training in
Australia and overseas;
• Investigate the factors that influence police officer decision-making
processes including:

• community contexts
• decision-making frameworks
• force used by officers when faced with significant events
• scenario based training observations
• a longitudinal study of what factors impact officer decision-making

• These data will be used as a basis for studying:

• what factors lead to negative use of force outcomes
• community perceptions of police use of force
• use of force in indigenous communities
•  

The overall goal of the project is to identify best practice standards from research to assist future policy development.

Project members include the following:

Dr Louise Porter (CEPS Project Leader, Research Fellow, GU)
Ms Kim Adams (Manager, Review and Evaluation Unit, Ethical Standards Command, QPS)
Ms Zoe Gunn (Senior Research Officer, Review and Evaluation Unit, Ethical Standards Command, QPS)
Ms Andrea Whittaker (Policy Officer, Inspectorate and Evaluation Branch, Ethical Standards Command, QPS)
Professor Geoffrey Alpert (Project Collaborator, Adjunct Professor, GU & Professor, University of South Carolina)
Professor Simon Bronitt (Chief Investigator, GU)
Inspector Jason Saunders (QPS Police Fellow)
Professor Tim Prenzler (Chief Investigator, GU)
Professor Phillip Stenning (Associate Investigator, GU)
A/Professor Kristina Murphy (Associate Investigator, GU)
Ms Linzie Jones (Research Assistant, GU)
Ms Lucy Schyf (Undergraduate Professional Placement Internship)
 

Cash-in-Transit Project

In 2011, a new study ‘Reducing Cash-in-Transit (CIT) Robberies and Improving Officer Safety’ was launched in the Frontline Policing Project. The study is being managed by Professor Tim Prenzler in conjunction with the Australian Institute of Criminology and with expert advice from the Australian Security Industry Association Limited. The study aims to analyse the situational variables involved in CIT robberies in Australia and consult with stakeholders to develop best
practices guidelines for safer and more secure practice.
 

Professor Simon Bronitt (Project Leader, Chief Investigator)
Dr Louise Porter (Research Fellow)
Inspector Jason Saunders (Police Fellow, Queensland Police Service)
Professor Tim Prenzler (Chief Investigator)
Professor Mark Kebbell (Chief Investigator)
Professor Geoffrey Alpert (Adjunct Professor, GU & Professor, University of South Carolina)