Towards a Safer Caboolture (TASC) PROGRAM

The Caboolture South Public Safety Project was a joint crime prevention and public safety initiative by the Queensland Government through the Department of Housing’s Community Renewal Program and the Queensland Police Service.

Now a shire-wide crime prevention and public safety program, the Project has gained commencement funding through the Department of Housing’s Community Renewal Program for a third term, to continue its focused public safety and crime prevention initiatives within Caboolture Shire.  The previous project has achieved many outcomes, including those related to break and enter, vehicle theft reduction, safety audits, neighbourhood crime and gaining significant support from the local community. A Summary Report detailing many of the projects key achievements and outcomes during its first phase is available click here for PDF format.

With the expansion of the project to a shire-wide program, planning commenced in August 2004 to bring together over 50 government, non-government and community representatives to determine the key focus areas for the next five years.  Working parties have subsequently been formed and over 38 actions have been developed to respond to crime and safety issues within Caboolture Shire.

This planning culminated in the development of the TASC Strategic Action Plan 2005 – 2010, involving some fifteen government departments, the non-government sector, private sector and residents.
 
Six priority areas of focus form the basis of action plans:

1. Domestic and Family Violence (7 action plans)
2. Urban Planning & Design (7 action plans)
3. Accommodation:  Domestic Violence Shelter / Refuge focus (3 action plans)
4. Youth Issues:  Volatile Substance Misuse – Chroming focus (6 action plans)
5. Crime resulting from substance abuse / misuse (1)
6. Substance Abuse / misuse (1)

In addition the TASC Plan includes supplementary action plans responding to a number of identified and related issues, for example:

• Fear of Crime – responding to the local and national evidence
• TASC Co-ordination
• Communications Strategy (including website development)
• Multicultural issues and policing
• Intelligence-led policing in hotspots

The TASC Plan is a significant milestone in the ongoing development of crime prevention and public safety partnership responses within the local Shire.  It is, however, also important to note, that while these strategies will go a long way to addressing crime and safety issues within the Shire, affecting long-term and sustainable change within any community, requires an ongoing commitment by the whole of the community. 

A Peak Reference Group (PRG) has been established - “TASC PRG”.  The PRG is jointly chaired by the Caboolture Shire Mayor and the Chief Superintendent of the North Coast Police Region.  The PRG is comprised of representatives across government and non-government agencies, including:  Queensland Health – Hospital and Community Mental Health representatives, Department of Housing, Department of Attorney-General – Magistrates Court, Liquor Licensing, Department of Education, Domestic Violence Service, Queensland Rail, Department of Corrective Services, Department of Youth Justice, among others.
 
The Queensland Police Service, in partnership with the Department of Housing’s Community Renewal Program, in addition to Caboolture Shire Council and our other key partners, are committed to the partnership approach to improve safety through the TASC Program – an innovative and collaborative approach in a South-East Queensland community.

The TASC Strategic Action Plan 2005 -2010 will be available online soon.  For preliminary copies, please contact Jo-anne Buchanan, Public Safety Co-ordinator by phone.

For further information:

Key TASC Contacts:

Public Safety Co-ordinator	Ph:  07 5495 6321 or  5495 0444
Program Manager:	Inspector, Caboolture Police Division Ph:  07 5495 0444