

Presentation:
'Interdiction for the Protection of Children – We don’t have to wait for victim children to cry out for help'
Objective: With training, officers can identify the subtle indicators that a child is being harmed or that a person poses a risk to the sexual safety of children. We don’t have to wait for the victim child to cry out for help.
Background – In 2019 the QPS adopted the Interdiction for the Protection of Children (IPC) program from Texas Department of Public Safety. The IPC program utelises a multidisciplinary approach to train officers to recognise indicators that a child may be a victim or at risk of being a victim of sexual abuse, child harm or child abduction. The impact of Childhood Sexual Abuse is estimated to cost the Australian economy up to $30 Billion per year.
Key Learnings: Victim children won’t necessarily cry out for help and may not act as expected, sometimes even appearing to “cooperate” in the offending. Not all offenders appear “bad” but with training officers will be able to identify the subtle behavioral, physical, situational and contextual indicators that are common in those who pose a high-risk threat to children.
IPC was created by the Texas Department of Public safety in 2009. In 2019 the Queensland Police Service adopted Interdiction for the Protection of Children Program. The QPS has delivered IPC training to the Emergency Services Cadets Leaders, School Support Officer Program, School Based Police Officers, Australian Border Force, the Australian Federal Police, the Department of Child Safety, Victorian Police and New South Wales Police.
IPC provides officers with an appreciation of how trauma affects children, why victims may not cry out for help, how officers can use a different lens during routine jobs to help identify children in need of protection and persons who pose a threat to the sexual safety of children.
IPC aims to change the traditional mindset, focusing on Prevention, Disruption and Early Intervention.
Key objectives – We must stop placing the burden on victim children to cry out for help. With training, officers can identify the subtle indicators that a child is being harmed or that a person poses a risk to the sexual safety of children and take action.
***LEA & PROSECUTIONS ONLY***

Detective Sergeant - QPS
Chris Jordan

Liz Johnson
Senior Behavioral Specialist - QPS