For further consideration Australian governments should refer to the This recommendation requires national Steering Committee for the Report on coordination. Government Services for review the issues of: how the reporting framework for police The Steering Committee for the Review services in the Report on Government of Government Service Provision Services could be extended to include (Steering Committee) has been reporting on child sexual abuse established by the Council of Australian offences Governments and comprises whether any outcome measures that representatives from the Commonwealth would be appropriate for police and State and Territory governments. investigations of child sexual abuse offences could be developed and reported on. Accept in principle Each Australian government should ensure Current Queensland Government that its policing agency: practices are consistent with this recognises that a victim or survivor’s recommendation, and the Queensland initial contact with police will be Police Service has investigators who important in determining their provide a specialist policing response to satisfaction with the entire criminal child victims. justice response and in influencing their willingness to proceed with a The Queensland Police Service will report and to participate in a review current policies and training prosecution resources to ensure they provide ensures that all police who may come sufficient guidance to all police officers in into contact with victims or survivors relation to the dynamics of sexual abuse of institutional child sexual abuse are and how trauma may impact on a trained to: ability to interact with police and person’s i. have a basic understanding of the criminal justice system. complex trauma and how it can affect people who report to police, including those who may have difficulties dealing with institutions or persons in positions of authority (such as the police) ii. treat anyone who approaches the police to report child sexual abuse with consideration and respect, taking account of any relevant cultural safety issues establishes arrangements to ensure that, on initial contact from a victim or survivor, police refer victims and survivors to appropriate support services. Accept in principle To encourage reporting of allegations of child The Queensland Government supports sexual abuse, including institutional child the intent of the Royal Commission’s sexual abuse, each Australian government recommendation. should ensure that its policing agency: takes steps to communicate to victims Further consideration is needed with (and their families or support people stakeholders, in particular the service where the victims are children or are sector. It is likely that this particularly vulnerable) that their recommendation will have financial and
Australian governments should refer to the Steering Committee for the Report on Government Services for review the issues of: how the reporting framework for police services in the Report on Government Services could be extended to include reporting on child sexual abuse offences whether any outcome measures that would be appropriate for police investigations of child sexual abuse offences could be developed and reported on. For further consideration This recommendation requires national coordination. The Steering Committee for the Review of Government Service Provision (Steering Committee) has been established by the Council of Australian Governments and comprises representatives from the Commonwealth and State and Territory governments. Each Australian government should ensure that its policing agency: recognises that a victim or survivor’s initial contact with police will be important in determining their satisfaction with the entire criminal justice response and in influencing their willingness to proceed with a report and to participate in a prosecution ensures that all police who may come into contact with victims or survivors of institutional child sexual abuse are trained to: i. have a basic understanding of complex trauma and how it can affect people who report to police, including those who may have difficulties dealing with institutions or persons in positions of authority (such as the police) ii. treat anyone who approaches the police to report child sexual abuse with consideration and respect, taking account of any relevant cultural safety issues establishes arrangements to ensure that, on initial contact from a victim or survivor, police refer victims and survivors to appropriate support services. Accept in principle Current Queensland Government practices are consistent with this recommendation, and the Queensland Police Service has investigators who provide a specialist policing response to child victims. The Queensland Police Service will review current policies and training resources to ensure they provide sufficient guidance to all police officers in relation to the dynamics of sexual abuse and how trauma may impact on a person’s ability to interact with police and the criminal justice system. To encourage reporting of allegations of child sexual abuse, including institutional child sexual abuse, each Australian government should ensure that its policing agency: takes steps to communicate to victims (and their families or support people where the victims are children or are particularly vulnerable) that their Accept in principle The Queensland Government supports the intent of the Royal Commission’s recommendation. Further consideration is needed with stakeholders, in particular the service sector. It is likely that this recommendation will have financial and
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