Local police shine at Sunnybank

By PLO Ricky Lashand, myPolice South Brisbane
Original article HERE

Police Officers, Police Liaison Officers and Volunteers in Police were on hand in Sunnybank last week to provide crime prevention and personal safety advice to residents and visitors to the iconic suburb.

The informal community engagement sessions are part of the hugely successful Coffee with a Cop campaign that has been rolled out across the South Brisbane District over the past few years.

Senior Constable Vernon Wootton from the District Crime Prevention Coordinators said that Coffee with a Cop brings our officers and the community members they serve together – over coffee – to discuss issues and learn more about each other.

“It’s an informal environment where anyone can approach us, receive relevant and important information, and ask us questions over a tea or a coffee,” Senior Constable Wooton said.

Senior Police Liaison Officer Ken Rong (originally from China) and Senior Police Liaison Officer Weng-Mun Sum (originally from Singapore) said that most of the people that we approached today felt comfortable talking to us about their issues due to our understanding of the language and culture.

“We find that there are cultural barriers, which prevent people coming to speak to police, so in this format, we find that people are much more relaxed and casual and we can engage with everyone much more effectively,” Senior Police Liaison Officer Ken Rong said.

“Today we have identified some people from the Chinese community have been victims of crime before and hadn’t reported it.

“This is important for us as locals, and and as members of the service, to actually find out why they hadn’t reported it and to help those individuals to understand the reporting process and how to stay safe in our community.”

Local Councillor Kim Marx, alongside State Member for Stretton Duncan Pegg MP and Federal Member for Moreton Graham Perrett also put on their coffee aficionado hats to join the conversation.

Many thanks to Officer in Charge Senior Constable Louise Newbould and her team at the Sunnybank Police Beat for their support throughout the day.

A special thanks to the managers of Sunnybank Plaza and Market Square Shopping Centre for hosting us across the long weekend and a shout-out to Heeretea Sunnybank for providing the delicious drinks!