'No action required': a historical pattern of inaction and discretion towards child sexual abuse in Queensland policing

Article

Bleakley, P. 2020. 'No action required': a historical pattern of inaction and discretion towards child sexual abuse in Queensland policing. Police Journal: Theory, Practice and Principles. 93 (2), pp. 109-130. https://doi.org/10.1177/0032258X19839281
TypeArticle
Title'No action required': a historical pattern of inaction and discretion towards child sexual abuse in Queensland policing
AuthorsBleakley, P.
Abstract

Throughout much of the 20th century, the Queensland Police Force were led by an administration of senior officers more engaged with corrupt practices than with the prosecution of child sexual abuse. An unwillingness within the police force to take action against suspected child sex offenders on many occasions could be perceived to obstruct investigations and provide a layer of protection to this kind of criminal behaviour. Examination of archival material suggests that Queensland police were motivated by an anomic condition within the force that led to deviance from established social norms governing attitudes towards child sexual abuse cases.

PublisherSAGE Publications
JournalPolice Journal: Theory, Practice and Principles
ISSN0032-258X
Electronic1740-5599
Publication dates
Online04 Apr 2019
Print01 Jun 2020
Publication process dates
Deposited17 Oct 2019
Accepted04 Mar 2019
Output statusPublished
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1177/0032258X19839281
LanguageEnglish
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