Key focus area—Property security

Fraud and corporate crime

The QPS takes a proactive stance in respect to fraud prevention and transnational crime. Pivotal to this position is increasing public awareness, developing partnerships with industry, adoption of a whole of government approach, sharing knowledge and building the capacity of Queensland Government agencies, industry groups and the community to manage and prevent fraud.

Under the umbrella of Project Synergy, the QPS has conducted a number of conferences and symposiums this year.

The HTCIDER (Hi Tech Crime Investigations and Digital Evidence Recovery) Symposium was conducted in July 2008 to assist investigators in the public and private sector to preserve and recover digital evidence from a number of media including computers, external drives and storage devices and to increase awareness of the high tech crime global environment.

The outcomes of the symposium included:

• increased law enforcement awareness of hi-tech crime and digital evidence
• development and strengthening of networks between police, government and industry
• up-skilling of government and industry in the identification and seizure of digital evidence
• up-skilling of government and industry in the appreciation of computer system vulnerabilities
• building the capacity of government and industry to deal with computer based crime or misuse.

Building on the highly successful National Nigerian Fraud Symposium in October 2007, the Service conducted the National Advance Fee Fraud Symposium in October 2008. This symposium was attended by National and International representatives of law enforcement agencies and industry groups.

The symposium was highly successful, and resulted in increased awareness of advance fee scams, victims and the consequences for victims, and development of a victim communication strategy and a national response to advance fee fraud.

The Practical Interviewing and Statement Taking Symposium was held in Brisbane in May 2009. It provided federal and State Government agencies, various industries and partners with the requisite investigative skills of interviewing and statement taking.

Information sessions and lectures have been delivered to various community groups throughout the year promoting awareness of fraud and the need for Internet and identity security. Over 12 000 people attended these events.

The eBay online reporting project, launched in 2007, has continued to be a success. This project allows victims of online auction fraud to report directly online to Queensland Police who will investigate the matter or forward it to the relevant law enforcement agency in Australia or overseas. During the 2008-09 reporting period 376 complaints were received.

The Fraud and Corporate Crime Group, Computer Crime Investigation Unit has been recognised nationally and internationally for its innovative approach to the threat of cyber crime.

In May 2009 AusCERT, the National Computer Emergency Response Team for Australia, in partnership with Secure Computing magazine, identified and awarded the Computer Crime Investigation Unit for being the premier law enforcement team in its field nationally in 2008-09.

In June 2009, Visa Inc, the world's largest retail electronic payments network and one of the most recognised global financial services brands, awarded the unit for its dedication and effort in combating payment card fraud at the Visa Asia Pacific Security Summit held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Combating graffiti

New laws to allow for the rapid removal of graffiti were passed by State Parliament on 26 August 2008. The Summary Offences (Graffiti Removal Powers) Amendment Bill allows authorised government and council officers to enter onto private land to remove graffiti that is in a public place or readily visible from a public place.

The Task Force Against Graffiti, a joint task force with the Brisbane City Council staffed by four police officers and one civilian intelligence officer, commenced operations in October 2008 under the control of State Crime Operations Command. Since commencing in October 2008, the Task Force has arrested 64 adults and 17 juveniles on a total of 2 304 offences.

The Service also administers a Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design Program (CPTED), which offers training for local councils and community groups on ways to reduce crime, including graffiti offences, through changes to the urban environment.

The QPS Railway Squad continues to work in partnership with Queensland Rail (QR) on adopting target hardening approaches to stop graffiti, including the application of CPTED principles within QR railway stations. The QPS is also working with Education Queensland to develop anti-graffiti education and awareness programs within schools.

In addition, Crime Stoppers works with councils and government agencies to target graffiti and wilful damage to property as well as raising awareness of graffiti-related problems through local media and community advertising.

Burglar Beware

The Burglar Beware communications campaign, a proactive partnership between police and the community, was implemented in Hervey Bay (North Coast Region). The project involves a media campaign aimed primarily at burglars rather than the traditional campaigns that target the victim. The project reinforces to people committing offences that they may be detected. The campaign includes photographs with captions including: You are being watched, The community is watching, Are you ready for our next move (handcuffed prisoner), and Your DNA stays long after you’ve gone.

This campaign is reaching the community through printed materials including posters distributed throughout the area, advertising via the transport system (banners on local buses), newspapers, community magazines and newsletter submissions, radio spots and television advertising.

The use of electronic media allows the message to be distributed wider than the primary target location of Hervey Bay to include communities across the Fraser Coast and Wide Bay Burnett incorporating Bundaberg Police District.

A survey conducted after the launch of the Burglar  Beware Project indicated a positive response to the project—as a result of the project, 63% of respondents said they were now sure to lock their doors when they went out; 44% took more notice of what was happening in their neighbourhood; and 43% said they felt more confident knowing that other people in the neighbourhood were watching out.

Patrolling of beachfront areas

In February 2009, the South Eastern Police Region invested over $70 000 to purchase four Rhino all terrain vehicles for use by the Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach, Palm Beach and Coolangatta Police Divisions.

The versatile Rhino which can carry two officers and additional safety equipment has replaced quad bikes, which could only carry one officer and no additional equipment.

Use of the Rhino vehicles will be one of the major strategies utilised by police stations with significant beachfront areas to patrol.