Australian Institute of Criminology
The Encounter Youth Hindley Street Program today received a gold award in the community-led category of the 2019 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.
The Hindley Street Program supports young people in vulnerable situations caused by excessive alcohol consumption and the use of other drugs every Saturday night from 11pm to 5am.
Encounter Youth’s Chief Executive Officer Nigel Knowles is proud of their trained volunteers who provide a safe and responsible presence to improve late-night safety for Adelaide’s young people.
“Volunteer patrols reduce the impact and incidents of alcohol-fuelled violence, drug offences, sexual assault and other antisocial behaviour through positive engagement strategies,” said Mr Knowles.
“A young person’s night may not go to plan and our hotline set up with SA Police allows officers to refer appropriate incidences to our volunteers, reducing the burden on emergency services resources and allows young people to receive the support they need.
“Winning this award is an acknowledgment of our hard working and passionate volunteers who care deeply for young people and demonstrates to the community that we are collaboratively preventing crime in Hindley Street.”
The annual ACVPA 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.
“The collaboration between community services, South Australia Police and emergency services and the City of Adelaide is an excellent partnership model,” said Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) Director, Michael Phelan APM.
“With the program running for more than eight years it has demonstrated its success in preventing alcohol-related physical and sexual assault.”
All projects are assessed each year by the ACVPA Board, which consists of senior law enforcement representatives from each state and territory police service, and chaired by the AIC Director.
The awards are a joint initiative of the Australian, state and territory governments, coordinated by the AIC and co-sponsored by the Ministerial Council for Police and Emergency Management.
/Public Release.
