The Queensland Police Service - 'South Brisbane District Islamic Youth Program' Evaluation: Police Mentor Assessments

Abstract

<p>In 2016, the Queensland Police Service (QPS) introduced a new police-led program called the South Brisbane District (SBD) Islamic Youth Program. In 2017 the Program was run for a second time. Working in consultation with the Islamic Council of Queensland and the Police Citizens Youth Club, the QPS delivered a 10-week culturally appropriate program designed to build strong relationships between police mentors and young Muslim boys in the South Brisbane District of Queensland. The SBD <i>Islamic Youth Program</i> was designed specifically to increase awareness of personal safety, home security strategies, online identity theft, fraud and scams, the role of police and police liaison officers (PLOs), knowledge of Australian laws, violence prevention (including domestic and family violence), and how to report information to police and anonymously through Crime Stoppers. The Program's underlying objective was to link police mentors with young Muslim boys (aged 13 to 17) in order to develop a network of participants who felt supported, connected, educated and empowered in the community. It was also designed to build young Muslim youth's knowledge of police roles, trust and confidence in police, and their willingness to engage with police in the future.</p.