Australian Government Crime Prevention Initiatives
Welcome to the Australian Government's crime prevention and community safety web site.
Crime, and the fear of crime, consistently rate amongst the highest concerns of the Australian public. The Australian Institute of Criminology has estimated that crime costs Australia around $32 billion per year.
The Australian Government shares the community's concern about crime and violence and their impact on people's lives.
Although the States and Territories have primary responsibility for the criminal justice system, since 1996 the Australian Government has undertaken a range of substantial initiatives aimed at reducing the incidence of violence and other crime in Australia.
This web site outlines some of the Australian Government's major initiatives in this area.
If you would like any additional information on crime prevention matters or funding under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, please provide your details (contact name, organisation name, telephone, email and postal address) to the Australian Government Attorney-General’s Department via email at crimeprevention@ag.gov.au or telephone (02) 6141 2711.
Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA)
Applications for funding under POCA are now open to local government organisations working in partnership with community groups to support anti-graffiti activities.
For information on how to apply for funding under this round of POCA, please see the Overview of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 page.
Applications closed for funding under POCA for specialist services that provide crisis accommodation for women and children escaping domestic violence on 25 November 2011.
The Minister for Home Affairs and Justice, the Hon Jason Clare MP, announced 31 successful projects under this funding round. The funding will be used for security upgrades at crisis accommodation shelters, which include installing security fencing, CCTV cameras, lighting and enhanced security systems.
For details of funding awarded please see the Overview of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 page.
Applications closed for funding under POCA for State and Territory Police and Community Youth Clubs (PCYCs) and ‘Blue Light’ organisation on 9 December 2011.
On 6 March 2012, the Minister for Home Affairs and Justice, the Hon Jason Clare MP, awarded funding to 16 PCYC and Blue Light organisations who will work in partnership with community groups around Australia.
For a description of these projects, please see the Overview of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 page.
Secure Schools Program
The Secure Schools Program was announced in 2007 and committed $20 million to assist at-risk government and non-government schools to meet their particular security needs. Funding is awarded on the basis of assessed security needs.
A further $15 million was announced in the 2011 -12 Budget to continue the Secure Schools Program for a further three years.
The main types of projects funded under the program involve security related infrastructure such as closed circuit television systems, fencing, lighting and improving window security. The program does not provide for security measures to deal with student bullying, harassment, student violence and child protection, or with opportunistic acts of vandalism or property crime in schools.
For more information on upcoming rounds and projects previously funded under this program, please see the Attorney-General’s Department website.
Safer Suburbs Program
During the 2007 election campaign commitments were made by the Government to fund specific community safety measures under the $15 million Safer Suburbs Plan. This included the installation of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) systems and improved street lighting for local communities. The Minister for Home Affairs awarded grants to 21 organisations for 22 projects. Nineteen of these projects are now complete.
The Government committed a further $5.42 million over three years during the 2010 election for over 43 projects to expand the Safer Suburbs Program and improve the safety of Australian communities. The Government has announced funding commitments for over 40 projects which commenced in mid-2011.
A full list of projects funded under the 2007 and 2010 round of the Safer Suburbs Program is available below.