Police Liaison Officers

Role and Function of Police Liaison Officers

Police Liaison Officers are employed by the Queensland Police Service to establish and maintain a positive rapport
between culturally specific communities and the Queensland Police Service. The role of Police Liaison Officers is to
promote trust and understanding through their liaison role by assisting the community and police to:

reduce and prevent crime;

divert people from the criminal justice system;
advise and educate police officers on culture and cultural issues; and
improve community knowledge of law and order issues and policing services.
Powers
The specialist 'liaison role' performed by a Police Liaison Officer does not require powers of a police officer. Police
Liaison Officers may however be called upon to assist police officers with law enforcement tasks in certain
circumstances.
Duties
Police Liaison Officers have a duty to:

Liaise with culturally specific communities to foster co-operation and understanding.

Advise police officers on the cultural beliefs, needs and protocols of the community in which they work.
Identify potential crime or disorder problems in the community and advise and assist in prevention
strategies.
Establish and maintain communication between the community and police.
Improve community access to policing services and refer to other services where necessary.
These activities assist the Queensland Police Service to be more effective by improving client services, preventing
or reducing crime and maintaining community partnerships. Police Liaison Officers play an important role in this
process.
How to recognise a Police Liaison Officer
Police Liaison Officers wear the same blue uniform as police officers. However they wear yellow shoulder epaulettes
and a 'Police Liaison Officer' name badge on their shirts. In the Torres Strait, Police Liaison Officers wear blue/green
shoulder epaulettes. The Police Liaison Officer hat has a yellow chequered band and a 'Police Liaison Officer' badge.
Recruiting
Vacancies for Police Liaison Officers are advertised on the Queensland Government Smart jobs and careers
website, www.jobs.qld.gov.au. Quick search by Category Community Engagement and Education or search
by Organisation, Queensland Police Service. Positions are cultural specific and only occur when there is a vacancy
in a police district. Information relating to each vacancy should be directed to the police officer noted in the role
description section.
Alternatively, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can contact:
Indigenous Employment Officer
Ph: 1 300 BE A COP (23 2 267)
Training
Upon commencing duties Police Liaison Officers are required to attend a two week induction course delivered at the
Queensland Police Academy - Oxley located in Brisbane. This course informs Police Liaison Officers of their rights,
entitlements, duties and obligations as Queensland Police Service members. In addition, Police Liaison Officers are
encouraged to continue training through the Queensland Police Service Staff Member Training Programs and other
external agencies to enhance career opportunities and skills portfolios.
Enquiries
General enquiries relating to Police Liaison Officers should be referred to local police stations.
A role of the Cultural Advisory Unit, Office of the Commissioner is to overview and develop the Police Liaison Officer
Scheme.