Cross Cultural Liaison Officers (CCLOs)

Foreword

The role of Cross-Cultural Liaison Officers is to improve relations between the Police Service and Indigenous/multicultural communities and to further the aims of the Queensland Police Service.

Contact with Regional Cross Cultural Liaison Officers can be made via your local regional headquarters or through the Cultural Advisory Unit on 3364 3934 .

Role of the Cross Cultural Liaison Officer

The role of Cross-Cultural Liaison Officers is to improve relations between the Police Service and indigenous/ethnic communities, to assist State police officers in understanding the issues affecting indigenous/ethnic communities and to further the aims of the Queensland Police Service.

In part, the role addresses potential problems and difficulties before they escalate. By encouraging communities to contact police, issues and concerns are more readily resolved.

Focus and strategies vary between geographic locations and the role of Cross Cultural Liaison Officer overlaps or is entwined with other policing functions. The work performed by Cross Cultural Liaison Officers remains at the discretion and direction of the respective Assistant Commissioner or District Officer.

The principal responsibilities of the Cross Cultural Liaison Officers can be found in s 6.4.8 of the OPMs. (amended version 10/99)

Aim

The main aim of the Cross Cultural Liaison Officer position is to increase the involvement of the Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and ethnic communities in addressing police related issues. This is being achieved through:

• coordinating and supporting the operations of Police Liaison Officers;
• providing guidance to state police officers on indigenous/ethnic issues;
• identifying special projects relevant to indigenous/ethnic communities;
• improving communication and understanding between police and the respective communities;
• identifying issues affecting the Queensland Police Service (QPS) and respective communities;
• developing appropriate ways of addressing these issues; and
• contributing to QPS policy.