Nadine McKillop

Technology-facilitated intimate partner violence (TFIPV) is increasingly featured in cases of intimate partner violence and intimate partner homicide. There is emerging recognition of the use of technology to abuse and control intimate partners in domestic abuse research and the inherent complexity of TFIPV is evident. As such, a better understanding of the factors that influence TFIPV is necessary. This scoping review aimed to synthesise extant literature on factors known to influence TFIPV. The review included 84 peer-reviewed primary sources that focused on adult intimate relationships (at least 18 years of age), had full-text versions in English, and included individual, situational, environmental, technological, and systemic factors found to increase the likelihood of TFIPV. The influencing factors were extracted and mapped onto a systems-thinking-based framework, Rasmussen's Risk Management Framework. This synthesis identified 28 higher-order themes across the TFIPV system hierarchy. Most of the factors within these themes related to lower levels of the system (e.g. perpetrators, victim-survivors, social environment, device and software capabilities), with limited consideration of broader systemic factors that influence TFIPV. Of the broader systemic factors that were identified, most related to inadequate responses to TFIPV by government, judicial system, technology industry regulators, and police. Future research should consider the use of systems-thinking-based frameworks and methods in understanding and addressing this complex and pervasive problem from a whole-of-system perspective.

Safeguarding in early childhood education and care (ECEC) in Australia has gained increasing public and policy attention, particularly after widely reported abuse cases. Yet less is known about how parents and carers understand safety within ECEC services. Using quantitative survey data from 303 Australian parents and carers of young children, this exploratory study examines enrolment decision-making alongside perceptions of safeguarding risks, confidence in current practices, and expectations about communication. Comparative analysis explores differences between families with and without current experience of formal care. Findings show safety is a central factor in parental engagement with ECEC, alongside practical considerations such as location and proximity to services. Concerns focus mainly on supervision and staff conduct, while access to safeguarding information and confidence in services' ability to prevent and respond to harm vary. The study offers insight into parental perspectives and implications for improving communication and safeguarding visibility across the sector.

Gender-responsive programming has emerged as a pivotal force behind improved therapeutic outcomes for women in the criminal justice system. Enhancing relevance of treatment provided to women sentenced for child sexual abuse (CSA) is necessary given the proposed gender-based pathways and motivations linked with this crime. This research incorporates the views of women sentenced for CSA (n = 18) and practitioners (n = 25) and aims to determine the key treatment targets for women sentenced for CSA, and how these might be similar or different to the needs of men sentenced for this offending. Results indicate that despite some overlap of treatment targets, there are gendered nuances in how some core topics should be addressed when delivering offense-specific correctional programming to women. Five key targets emerged that indicate notable differences warranting tailored intervention, including: the effects of past trauma, relationship toxicity, (un)healthy sexuality, lowered self-concepts, and parenting challenges. These nuances align with strengths-based and trauma-informed approaches advocated for this population, helping to guide future program development and implementation. Recommendations for practice are included.

Police are often becoming primary responders to people experiencing mental illness (PMI), frequently managing crises that fall outside traditional law enforcement roles. Police-PMI encounters are complex, resource-intensive, and often associated with adverse outcomes. Yet the evidence base on how such interactions occur and what influences their outcomes lacks a comprehensive understanding. To address this gap, a systematic literature review was conducted to synthesise the contemporary research on police interactions with PMI within Commonwealth countries over the past decade. Literature searches were conducted across eight databases using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. This process resulted in a final sample of 20 peer-reviewed empirical studies. Data were extracted on interaction dynamics, characteristics and experiences of the key parties involved, theoretical perspectives used, methodological approaches employed, and the effectiveness of different response models. The reviewed studies indicate that police-PMI interactions were most commonly crisis-driven, frequently involved individuals with prior police contact, and often resulted in arrest with the use of force or involuntary transport. Across the included literature, police officers commonly reported limited mental health training and unclear operational guidance, while PMI frequently described fear, distrust, and misinterpretation of crisis-related behaviours. Findings related to specialist response models such as co-response and Crises Intervention Teams (CIT) were mixed, with some studies reporting reductions in use of force but limited evidence of reduced arrest or transport rates. Overall, the review identified persistent systemic gaps remain, strained frontline responses, and a limited evidence base, indicating the need for improved training, stronger cross-sector collaboration, and broader, more inclusive research to inform safe and more effective police-PMI interactions.

Peer-to-peer bullying is a widespread, persistent form of harm among young people with profound and lasting impacts on their development and wellbeing. Anonymous harm reporting tools, like Stymie, offer a valuable response to known help-seeking barriers, enabling earlier identification and intervention to prevent or limit these harms. This paper reports on findings from a foundational study exploring educators' (n = 14) experiences of Stymie in Australian schools. Semantic thematic analysis identified five overarching themes, demonstrating the utility and positive impact of Stymie in creating safer school environments. Specifically, the results showed that Stymie addressed an identified need and pathway for reporting concerns within schools, with anonymity a core feature. Educators suggested Stymie had helped to facilitate early intervention and deterrence, while creating positive shifts in school safety culture. However, the results also suggested that scaffolded implementation and integration is essential to ensure active engagement with the tool and to maxi-mise outcomes.

New research released by the New South Wales Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) confirms what many Australians may already feel: trust in police is declining.

BOSCAR has been surveying NSW residents since 2007 and in releasing the 2026 data, the organisation states:

Confidence in the NSW criminal justice system has declined significantly since 2019 across all measures, and is at the lowest levels since BOCSAR’s survey began in 2007.

This comes just months after a 2026 Australian Productivity Commission report found perceptions of fair and equal treatment by police has declined more than 20% in the past decade.

So why is this happening, and why does it matter?

Purpose
To examine the role of police as gatekeepers to the criminal justice system through their use of diversionary mechanisms in response to sexual offending.

Design/methodology/approach
The study involves statistical analyses of existing police administrative data (from 2012–21) obtained from one Australian jurisdiction, Queensland.

Findings
Young people were more likely to receive a diversionary response than adults (i.e. more than 99%), with diversionary actions increasing slightly over time, and most being police cautions (i.e. 84.9%). Compared to young males, young females were more likely to receive a diversionary response, which was more likely to be a caution than a conference referral. This pattern was consistent over time; young people from First Nations backgrounds were less likely to receive a diversionary response than non-Indigenous young people, but if they received one, they were more likely to be referred to a restorative justice conference than non-Indigenous young people. This was also a consistent pattern over time.

Research limitations/implications
This study highlights the need for further research into the factors shaping police use of diversion in sexual offence cases, to better understand in what circumstances it is being used, and where it could be leveraged further, as appropriate.

Originality/value
This study offers a novel exploration of police actions in response to sexual offending, focusing on the mechanism of police diversion. It delineates the use of diversionary options over time, across offence types, and by gender, age and cultural heritage, providing fresh insights into the use of diversion in policing practice for sexual offence cases.

What actually works in preventing crime?
Crime prevention has become one of the central challenges of modern criminal justice policy. Governments, police agencies, community organisations and security professionals all seek strategies that reduce offending while maintaining fairness, accountability and public trust.



Applied Crime Prevention provides a clear, practical guide to the major approaches used internationally to reduce crime. Drawing on decades of research and real-world case studies, the book shows how prevention strategies can be applied in policing, community safety, corrections and security settings.



The book integrates theory, evidence and practice across a wide range of prevention strategies, including policing, offender rehabilitation, community programs and environmental design. It highlights the importance of systematic planning, evaluation and partnership between stakeholders in achieving sustainable reductions in crime. [Book Synopsis]

What actually works in preventing crime?
Crime prevention has become one of the central challenges of modern criminal justice policy. Governments, police agencies, community organisations and security professionals all seek strategies that reduce offending while maintaining fairness, accountability and public trust.



Applied Crime Prevention provides a clear, practical guide to the major approaches used internationally to reduce crime. Drawing on decades of research and real-world case studies, the book shows how prevention strategies can be applied in policing, community safety, corrections and security settings.



The book integrates theory, evidence and practice across a wide range of prevention strategies, including policing, offender rehabilitation, community programs and environmental design. It highlights the importance of systematic planning, evaluation and partnership between stakeholders in achieving sustainable reductions in crime. [Book Synopsis]

Rising anti-police sentiments pose a clear threat to officer safety and efficacy. Impacts likely extend beyond operational concerns, posing potential identity threats as officers reconcile criticisms of their profession with their own identity. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 former Australian police officers to explore the impacts of anti-police sentiment on their personal and professional identities. Using a revised framework of identity work, we explored officers’ perspectives of what anti-police sentiment is; when anti-police sentiment presents an identity threat; and officers’ motivations and techniques for managing these threats. Findings suggest that anti-police sentiments primarily pose an identity threat to police officers through repeated experience and are compounded by organisational responses. Ultimately, findings outline how Australian police officers conceptualise, experience, and manage anti-police sentiment, expanding domestic and international literature and outlining research and practice opportunities for managing anti-police sentiment harms in the Australian policing organisational and operational landscape.