The Australian Crime and Violence Prevention Awards (ACVPA) are now in their 21st year and they play a vital role in highlighting effective, community-based initiatives to prevent crime or violence before it is committed.
When crime prevention works well, it reduces the social and economic costs to the community in responding to criminal acts.
The Coalition Government was elected on a platform to help make our streets and communities safer through tough and effective steps to assist fighting and preventing crime.
Since coming to Government we have fast-tracked new anti-gang squads to help state and territory authorities tackle criminal gangs, and their illegal trades including drug trafficking, drug manufacturing, extortion, prostitution and firearms trafficking.
We have a roadmap to tackle the growing threat of fraud—particularly identity crime—which was recently released.
We also have a $50 million Safer Streets program which is being used to support a range of community safety commitments to improve security on the ground in communities around Australia.
The ACVPA program continues its valuable service to Governments, by identifying practical projects to reduce crime in the community.
This year the ACVPA Awards recognise two national winners—from Queensland and South Australia, and 13 State winners, all with a diversity of approaches to prevent and mitigate crime and violence.
Today’s award winners are playing a key role in keeping our community engaged and our streets safer.
We know only safe communities can be strong and prosperous, and I congratulate them on their work in helping to achieve this.
The awards are sponsored by the heads of Australian Governments and the Law, Crime and Community Safety Council, and are managed by the Australian Institute of Criminology.
For a full list of national, state and territory winners visit the AIC website at http://www.aic.gov.au/.
