• Charles Sturt in Port Macquarie is hosting 27 students for the 2019 ‘Crime Prevention International Summer School’
• The five-day program consists of lectures and activities aimed at improving students’ crime prevention and problem-solving skills
• Students work in groups to interact with the local authorities and the community to research crimes and look for responses to reduce the impact of the crimes

Charles Sturt University (Charles Sturt) in Port Macquarie is hosting 27 students and four international guest academics this week for a unique five-day program exploring local crime prevention initiatives.

A first for Port Macquarie, this innovative program welcomes 18 international students from England, Wales and Canada and nine Australian students studying at Charles Sturt in Port Macquarie, Bathurst and online for the 2019 ‘Crime Prevention International Summer School’ (Monday 16 December to Friday 20 December).

During the program, students are required to work in groups to research crimes, such as retail theft, theft from public places, including the beaches, anti-social behaviour and maritime offences, and identify responses to reduce the crime and its impact on the community.

One of the coordinators of the crime prevention program, Senior Lecturer in the Charles Sturt Centre for Law and Justice Dr Rosemary Woolston, said there was not a crime epidemic occurring in Port Macquarie, however the facilities available in Port Macquarie presented a valuable opportunity for students to apply what they are learning in the classroom to real practical situations.

“The students will interact with the local authorities, including the NSW Police Force in Port Macquarie, the Department of Primary Industries (Fisheries), and Australian Lifeguard Service (NSW), as well as the community to research the crimes and look locally, nationally and internationally at responses to reduce similar types of offences,” Dr Woolston said.

“On Thursday, the students will present their findings to a panel of academics and staff from the various organisations with whom they have been interacting, thereby giving back to the community which generously supported this project.

“Port Macquarie was selected because of the excellent facilities and resources available here, and because most of the students in the program, especially our visiting students from overseas, are not familiar with the region and can therefore really put their research skills to the test.”

As part of the program, the students will be mentored by four visiting academics: Professor in Policing and Criminal Justice at Canterbury Christ Church University Dr Stephen Tong, Senior Lecturer and Course Leader in International Policing and Security at the University of South Wales Ms Sharan Johnstone, Lecturer within the police sciences division at the University of South Wales Mr Daniel Welch, and Lecturer in Policing Mr Phil Coope from the University of Central Lancashire.

Lecturer in Law and Justice from Charles Sturt in Port Macquarie Mr Steven Miles is also one of the academic mentors.

The visiting students from overseas include three from the Justice Institute of British Columbia in Canada, eight from South Wales University in Wales, seven from England, including four from Canterbury Christ Church University and two from the University of Central Lancashire.

The program is being supported by a range of local organisations which Dr Woolston said were instrumental in running the program.

“I would like to thank all of our supporters, particularly the NSW Police, the Department of Primary Industries, and Australian Lifeguard Service (NSW) here in Port Macquarie for their support of this program,” Dr Woolston said.

The 2019 ‘Crime Prevention International Summer School’ is organised by the Charles Sturt Centre for Law and Justice in the Faculty of Business, Justice and Behavioural Sciences.