A Practical Policing Strategy to Reduce Opportunities for Youth Sexual Violence and Abuse

• In Event: Sexual Violence & Abuse from the Situational Crime Prevention and Opportunity Perspective

Abstract

Exploring an innovative place-based approach to the prevention of youth sexual violence and abuse, this presentation will focus on how opportunities to sexually offend were targeted in a comprehensive whole of community prevention approach. Whilst numerous prevention activities were designed and implemented to reduce abuse opportunities, specific attention will be given to the development and implementation of a new policing initiative comprising preventive foot patrols with a guardianship focus, in identified ‘hot spots’ and ‘hot times’ for sexual offences in public locations. Evaluation of these pilot patrols at two sites (one remote Australian Indigenous community and one urban environment) will be presented.

Author

• Dimity Adams, Griffith University