Buddha’s Birth Day Festival is just around the corner and this year marks the 23rd anniversary of the iconic celebration on Southbank Parkland in Brisbane.
Over 200,00 attendees will gather throughout the Parklands to partake in over 180 cultural, art and music festivities, including Multicultural Parade and Dragon Boat Regatta in this upcoming Labour Day long weekend from May 3 to May 5.
Once more, the Queensland Police Service will be present during the festival and we will be hosting an information stall in front of the Wheel of Brisbane.
Whilst there, we will be speaking to attendees about several topics including cyber safety, family and domestic violence and crime prevention advice. Police Recruiting will also be joining us to answer any questions you have about joining the QPS.
We will be giving away many useful resources, and we encourage you to stop by, say hello and grab a quick selfie with our Police
Category: Queensland Police News Updates – South Brisbane
Mates in Blue help steer youth in right direction
Last month, the Public Safety Response Team (PSRT) conducted the second Mates in Blue program at the Queensland Police Service Academy in Brisbane.
The Mates in Blue program is a joint Queensland Government partnership initiative, initiated and developed by Acting Inspector Tony Del Vecchio and Regional Youth Support Coordinator Ms Vicki Ogilvie from the Queensland Department of Education.
The three-day program offered classroom lessons, group exercises, practical sessions and role playing, where all students participated at a high level with their mentors.
Mentors were assigned to each student for the entirety of the program to positively influence their thinking, actions and approaches to stressful situations without reverting to anger or violence.
Acting Inspector Del Vecchio said that the program has provided an excellent opportunity to work collectively and collaboratively with Youth Support Coordinators and to continue to build solid relationships with vulnerable young people through positive role modelling.
“The program is aimed to break down
Police issue urgent warning following QPS phone number used in scam
Detectives from the State Crime Command’s Financial and Cyber Crime Group have issued a warning to Queensland residents about a scam using a Queensland Police Service phone number to legitimise a government or Australian Taxation Office (ATO) impersonation scam.
In this instance the criminals are using a practice known as caller ID spoofing where they inappropriately manipulate the telephone network to indicate the incoming call is from a different number (in this case a QPS number).
The scam starts when the criminal calls the victim impersonating a government department. They advise the victim has an outstanding fine or fee with them (for example, the ATO). While this type of scam has been doing the rounds for some time, police are concerned this version of the scam has an additional layer which may result in more members of the community falling victim.
The second part of the scam involves the criminal calling the victim
Think U Know? MacGregor
On Tuesday April 30, officers from South Brisbane District were invited to lead a special ‘Think U Know’ presentation to the parents and guardians of students from MacGregor State School.
Senior Constable Sherry Ho from the South Brisbane District Crime Prevention Unit was joined by Senior Police Liaison Officer (PLO) Mary Kenyi and PLO Ricky Lashand to lead the event. We were also joined by Andrew Chan from Datacom Group Ltd.
As part of the program, two sessions were held (one in English, one in Mandarin Chinese) and featured a range of topical concepts including:
Image based abuse;
Online grooming;
Cyber-bullying; and
Digital Shadows.
Speaking of the importance of the presentation, Senior Police Liaison Officer Mary Kenyi said we live in a digital age where we are guided by social media, online platforms and our mobile phones.
“Whilst these resources have made it easier for us to communicate, we need to develop and encourage the next generation to
Could you be our next ViP?
Volunteers and liaison officers working together
The South Brisbane District Crime Prevention Unit is on the hunt for some more fabulous Volunteers in Policing to join their fast-paced and dynamic volunteer team.
Volunteers in Policing (ViPs) are based in local police establishments where they work with police to address customer service, community safety and crime prevention needs in the community.
The range of tasks our volunteers undertake complement rather than compete with the roles and responsibilities of paid police officers and staff members, and they are an invaluable resource for the South Brisbane community.
South Brisbane District Crime Prevention Unit are on the hunt for Volunteers in Policing to join our fast paced and dynamic volunteer team.
If you can see yourself in this picture, wearing a different kind of suit of blue then keep reading because we would love to hear from you!
Some of the responsibilities of our volunteers include:
Providing support to and assisting
Charges laid for bag snatching offenders, Sunnybank Hills
On Sunday April 28, a 19-year-old Slacks Creek man and 17-year-old Slacks Creek girl were charged with robbery and fraud offences following an incident in Sunnybank Hills.
It will be alleged that at 9.55pm on April 15, a Sunnybank Hills woman was approached by the two people on Hellawell Road at Sunnybank Hills.
The woman engaged in a short conversation with the man and woman, when it is alleged the man grabbed the woman’s handbag before they both ran away.
It will be further alleged the woman’s credit card was used to purchase cigarettes and food at two service stations in Woodridge and Kingston.
Officers from the Acacia Ridge Criminal Investigation Branch were able to use CCTV and information from witnesses to locate and arrest the man and girl.
A 19-year-old Slacks Creek man has been charged with one count each of robbery and two counts of fraud.
He will appear in the Brisbane Magistrates
Fatal traffic crash, Thornside
Police are investigating a fatal traffic crash that occurred in Thornside this afternoon.
Officers were a called to a unit complex on Thornside Road at 3.35pm following reports that two boys had been struck by a reversing vehicle.
A 3-year-old boy was pronounced deceased at the scene and another 3-year-old boy was taken to hospital with what are believed to be minor injuries.
The driver of the car, a 16-year-old boy was taken to hospital for treatment of shock.
Investigations are continuing.
If you have information for police, contact Policelink on 131 444 or provide information using the online form 24hrs per day.
You can report information about crime anonymously to Crime Stoppers, a registered charity and community volunteer organisation, by calling 1800 333 000 or via crimestoppersqld.com.au 24hrs per day.
Quote this reference number: QP1900822603
Old girls give back to Our Lady’s College
Last month Police from Annerley Station and the Upper Mount Gravatt Tactical Crime Unit attended Our Lady’s College, Annerley.
It may have been over 15 years since last setting foot within the school gates but officers were met with a warm response when the students were informed that two of the officers were in fact old girls of Our Lady’s College.
The students in Year 11 and 12 interacted well with officers and discussed topics including domestic violence, personal safety and how making good choices can shape your future and the path that you take.
It was a wonderful experience and opportunity to give back to a school that continues to nurture young women.
Slow down, speed kills
Now that the Easter break is over, the normal volumes of traffic are likely to resume on our roads.
Children are back at school, and school zone speeds of 40km/h are back in force during 7am – 9am, and 2pm – 4pm.
Police would like to remind motorists to take care on the roads and consider their speed when driving.
Speeding is a major factor in serious and fatal traffic crashes. It’s not just about driving faster than the speed limit, it’s also about driving faster than the road or weather conditions allow.
Speeding can also be a major factor when considering the condition of the vehicle being driven and the skills of the person behind the wheel.
Studies have proven that travelling as few as 5km over the speed limit can double your chances of having a serious crash.
There have been extensive studies completed and promulgated by the Centre for Accident Research and Road
Robbery with violence, Sunnybank
Police are investigation after two men were assaulted and robbed in Sunnybank overnight.
At around 8pm, two men were walking on Station Road when they were approached by a group of around 5 or 6 men.
Member of the group made demands for the men’s phones and cash, and when the pair complied, they were punched in the head.
The group then fled the scene on foot with two phones and a sum of cash and were last seen running towards the Sunnybank Rail Station.
The men were treated for minor injuries.
Investigations are continuing.
If you have information for police, contact Policelink on 131 444 or provide information using the online form 24hrs per day.
You can report information about crime anonymously to Crime Stoppers, a registered charity and community volunteer organisation, by calling 1800 333 000 or via crimestoppersqld.com.au 24hrs per day.
Quote this reference number: QP1900805171