Winner:  Queensland Transport for Operation Copra

Accepting the award is:

• Gary Mahon's, Director (Strategic Policy), Queensland Transport and
• Peter Swindells, Assistant Commissioner, Crime Operations, Queensland Police

Also present representing Operation Copra is:

• Roy Linssen: Assistant Policy Officer, Queensland Transport
• Detective Sargent Dean Gilmore, Queensland Police Service

Also recognise those agencies who assisted QLD Transport with Operation Copra:

• Queensland Police Service
• Australian Customs Service
• Queensland Department of Fair Trading
• Australian Federal Police

Queensland Transport commenced Operation Copra in February 2000 in conjunction with Queensland Police Service, Australian Federal Police, Department of Fair Trading and the Australian Customs Service.  It commenced as an investigation into the fraudulent compliancing of imported second hand vehicles for sale and registration.  One of the features of this operation was that Queensland Transport sponsored the secondment of two full time members of the Queensland Police Service to the project and developed strong relationships between agencies and jurisdictions both within Queensland and Australia, enabling the sharing of information and expertise, thus increasing effectiveness of the initiative.  During these joint investigations a significant number of rebirth stolen vehicles were identified, leading to the identification of links with syndicated theft activities both in Queensland and interstate.  As a direct result of the formation of this joint task force 40 person had been apprehended and been charged with 342 offences ranging from compliance plate manufacture, attempted fraud, producing misleading documents and possession of stolen motor vehicles.  This joint task force has now matured into a sophisticated and highly effective early warning system for professional auto theft and fraudulent registration activities, fostering excellent working relationships with other agencies and jurisdictions and maximising the gains from information exchange and interagency cooperation.

Operation Copra's success relied on several agencies — Queensland Transport, Queensland Police Service, Australian Federal Police, the Queensland Department of Fair Trading, and Australian Customs Service.

In his acceptance of the award on behalf of Queensland Transport, Gary Mahon, Strategic Policy Director acknowledged the commitment of all agencies involved with the one aim of reducing vehicle theft.

"The award is testament to strong relationships between agencies and jurisdictions in Queensland and across Australia.

"A significant number of re-identified stolen vehicles and links with syndicate theft activities have been identified," Mr Mahon said.

To date, Operation Copra has led to more than 300 successful prosecutions relating to compliance plate manufacture, attempted fraud, producing misleading documents, and the possession of stolen vehicles.

In presenting the award Ms Nola Watson said “This joint taskforce has matured into a sophisticated and highly effective early warning system for professional auto-theft and fraudulent registration activities and maximises the gains from information exchange and interagency cooperation.”

Certificates of Merit:

This year there was a particularly strong field of nominations and the Committee had a particular tough time in choosing the winner in this category.  Because there can only be one winner, the Awards Committee felt there were a couple of nominations that deserved special recognition.  Therefore the following nominations were selected to receive a certificate of merit.

1.     Project Stoptheft, Queensland Police – This initiative was conducted in the North Coast Police Region situated on the Sunshine Coast.  It was a very successful program from developed using the SARA problem solving process – Scan Analysis Response and Assessment.   Stoptheft targeted public parking areas such as shopping centre car park and beach car parks.  It involved the distribution of a 4 part resource package  containing: a OK/25 sticker;  a EMPTY CAR  card that can be placed on the dashboard indicating all valuable had been removed ; a brochure containing vehicle security advice and a blue plastic bag with provision for a written motor vehicle security assessment.  The project enlisted the support of volunteers and received tremendous community and media support.

Call upon Assistant Commissioner, Crime Operations,  Peter Swindells from Queensland Police to accept the certificate on behalf of members of the North Coast Police Region.

2.     This next certificate of merit goes to an individual.  It is someone who I have known for a number of years now and I believe is very deserving a some public recognition for her work.  She is one of those people get is extremely energetic and always approaches her work with a great deal of enthusiasm.   This person was nominated by her former colleagues for her work as a Intelligence Analyst within the NSW Police Service.  And for those members who attended last year’s IAATI seminar I am sure they will remember her very interesting and professional presentation on re-birthing.  I am of course talking about Lisa Young.  Lisa who has recently resigned from the NSW Police Service spent almost three years with the former NSW Police Information and Intelligence Centre.   Her quantitative and qualitative research into motor vehicle theft and organised car re-birthing represent a significant contribution to the overall intelligence capability of the NSW Police Service.  Her work has raised awareness of  changing modus operandi, hot vehicles/ hot spots, hot time analysis, target profiling, applying international trends to domestic developments and has help build relationships with a wide range of both private and community stakeholders.  Her work has been accessed by all Australian law enforcement agencies via the ABCI’s Australian Law Enforcement Intelligence Network. 

Call Lisa Young to accept her certificate

3.     Finally the Committee wishes to acknowledge the recent efforts of the Victorian Police Service in the establishment of Operation Vehicle Watch.  In 2001 Commissioner Christine Nixon announced that motor vehicle theft would become a high organisational priority and established an internal review of motor vehicle theft in Victoria, which consisted of empirical research, analysis and consultation with internal and external stakeholders.  As a result of that review a major state-wide initiative was formulated under the banner of Operation Vehicle Watch.  The initiative provided an increased emphasis upon the availability and quality of criminal intelligence, investigation crime prevention and media marketing concerning motor vehicle theft activity.  It has been underpinned by a coordinated approach that involves a strategic partnership with the public, private and community sector groups.

Two of the really positive developments from the initiative has been the establishment of dedicated investigative groups in each police region to concentrate upon opportunistic vehicle theft (TOMCATs – Theft of Motor Car Action Teams) and the establishment of the Organised Motor Vehicle Theft Squad.

Call upon ……………….Gerry Bashford to accept this certificate on behalf of the Victorian Police Service.