More focus will be placed on stopping hoon drivers as police clamp down on crimes of concern to the community.
Queensland Police spent Saturday night disrupting a large-scale gathering, seizing two vehicles and issuing 21 traffic infringement notices.
The action was part of Operation Tango Vinyl, which commenced in March last year, targeting dangerous driving and anti-social behaviour on the Gold Coast.
Queensland Police Acting Chief Superintendent Rhys Wildman said police regularly saw young people driving recklessly, or getting into cars with those who did.
“This behaviour is so dangerous, it could have a lasting impact on their life or career, particularly if they’re injured or put before the courts,” Mr Wildman said.
A new strategy by Victoria Police, revealed on Monday, will see more focus and engagement by police on the crimes that matter most to the community – including hoon driving.
“This is about going back to the very basics of police work,” said assistant commissioner Tim Hansen from the Service Delivery Transformation Command.
“After the last two years of Covid, we see this as a really good opportunity for us to get back to why every police officer does the job they do.
“That means always listening to what’s concerning the community – be it the local shopkeeper worried about vandalism, a parent concerned about driver behaviour around their child’s school, or someone who doesn’t feel safe on the local bus.”
Moving forward, every police service area in Victoria will keep a register of issues that matter most to their community.
Authorities wxjmtzywill use the register to help decide where to direct officers’ efforts rather than simply responding to crime when it’s reported.
“We will still be focused on catching crooks, but we want to provide a more even balance between reactive and proactive policing – helping identify emerging issues before they become a problem.”
Local safety committees will also be established to help decide what’s on each area’s community issues register. These will generally be made up of police, local council and community groups.
The approach aims to take a more broadly encompassing approach to solving issues of concern which police say may require involving local council or government departments.
“To get the basics of police work right, we need to still hold offenders to account, but with a focus on preventing crime in the first instance,” Mr Hansen said.
“We’re not just listening to what the community’s worried about, but getting police to work with their communities to address those concerns.”
As an extra level of accountability, reports will be made on progress through follow-up calls or online updates.
