Project Kairos: Queensland Gangs Exit Program today received a gold award in the police-led category of the 2021 Australian Crime and Violence Prevention Awards (ACVPA).
The ACVPA recognise best practice in the prevention or reduction of violence and other types of crime in Australia and play a vital role in highlighting effective community-based initiatives to prevent crime and violence.
Project Kairos was established by the Queensland Police Service Organised Crime Gangs Group in 2018 to reduce the harm caused to the community by outlaw motorcycle gangs. The project has four pillars: research, prevention, an Exit Program, and ‘equipping our workforce’.
Acting Chief Superintendent, Roger Lowe, said the project recognises that not all organised crime gang members are created equal.
“Not all gang members are redeemable or want to be redeemed, but many are. We know from our research many joined gangs for the wrong reasons, lured by false promises and regret their decisions.
“The Exit program provides a safe pathway for those who want to take the step towards change. Project Kairos delivers significant benefits to the individuals, their families and the Queensland community by reducing crime and violence,” said Acting Chief Superintendent Lowe.
Crime and Intelligence Command Assistant Commissioner, Katherine Innes, said winning the ACVPA recognises the significant investment by the Exit program team in these individuals to change their lives and turn their back on gangs and crime.
“Showcasing the compelling personal stories of these ex-gang members through the ACVPA will hopefully influence others to seek out support and choose a better pathway,” Assistant Commissioner Innes said.
These annual awards recognise the outstanding contributions being made across Australia for crime prevention, including the development and implementation of practical projects to reduce violence and other types of crime in the community.
Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) Director, Michael Phelan APM, said that Project Kairos is an extremely worthwhile program for those who wish to leave gangs, diverting serious criminals away from criminal behavior.
“Their innovative prevention and intervention strategies reduce the harm caused to the community by outlaw motorcycle gangs, and has the potential to be adopted in other jurisdictions.
“The program results show a significant reduction in all types of criminal activity from those who have gone through the process and the program has a strong focus on long-term solutions to sustain crime prevention,” said Mr Phelan.
Queensland Police Service Commissioner Katarina Carroll congratulated the state’s winners on their extraordinary projects and for their dedication to keeping their communities safe.
“I was pleased to present the police sector gold award to Project Kairos for their innovative prevention and intervention strategies to reduce the harm caused to the community by outlaw motorcycle gangs through research, prevention, an Exit Program and equipping our workforce,” she said.
All projects are assessed each year by the ACVPA Board, which is chaired by the AIC Director and consists of senior law enforcement representatives from each state and territory police service.
The awards are a joint Australian Government, state and territory initiative administered by the AIC.
For more information about the award winners, visit www.aic.gov.au/acvpa
To watch the ceremony please visit our YouTube channel, CriminologyTV.
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