Working together to prevent the abuse and exploitation of children and young people

ANZPAA has released the updated Australia and New Zealand Policing Strategy to Prevent and Respond to the Abuse and Exploitation of Children and Young People (2026) (the Strategy). This Strategy replaces the 2019 version and sets a renewed, collective direction for policing agencies to extend the reach and impact of prevention initiatives, strengthen operational responsiveness, and enhance the experience of victim-survivors and their families during their interactions with police.

The abuse and exploitation of children and young people remains one of the most serious and confronting harms faced by communities across Australia and New Zealand. The Strategy acknowledges that many experiences of abuse remain unseen or unreported, with disclosure often requiring extraordinary courage from victims and survivors. It also recognises that the impact is both enduring and widespread – felt not only by victims, but across families, communities, and the workforce responding to these crimes. Hence, the Strategy introduces a new key principle: a supported workforce – recognising that victim-centric responses require personnel to feel well equipped, protected, and supported.

Against this backdrop, the operating environment is evolving rapidly. Offenders are leveraging technology to expand their reach, operate across jurisdictions (both domestically and globally), and evade detection. At the same time, police are managing increasing demand, fragmented information systems, and the need for faster, more coordinated responses.

Key Principles

VICTIM-CENTRICITY

Ensuring the safety, interests, and dignity of all victims (including those of historical sexual abuse) remain at the centre of every policing initiative, intervention, and response to the abuse and exploitation of children and young people.

A SUPPORTED WORKFORCE

Sustaining a workforce that is equipped, protected, and valued – enabling police to respond with professionalism, empathy, and resilience to one of the most complex and confronting areas of crime.

The Strategy has been revised with the understanding that preventing and responding to this crime type requires even greater collaboration with key stakeholders. It reinforces that while police are uniquely positioned to lead and coordinate responses where matters meet a criminal threshold, effective safeguarding depends on mobilising the broader system (e.g. child protection, justice partners, non-government organisations, industry, academia) and the community.

It sets out key activities designed to support practical improvements in how agencies operate – strengthening reporting pathways, 

enabling more proactive initiatives, and supporting efficient, agile responses.

These key activities sit within three key focus areas, each supported by the enabling levers of people, capability, and partnerships:

1. Engage and Prevent

Prevention starts with engagement - building trust, increasing awareness, and strengthening the capability of both police and the community to recognise and respond to risk. The Strategy acknowledges that frontline policing is one key contributor to prevention, but there are opportunities to align with and support broader system-wide efforts to reduce harm before it occurs.

2. Disrupt and Intervene

Early Early disruption is critical to preventing escalation and repeat victimisation. This focus area emphasises the need for timely identification of risk, proactive intervention, and the use of intelligence to stay ahead of emerging threats.

3. Respond and Investigate

When harm occurs, there is a need for timely, coordinated, and victim-centred policing response. This focus area reinforces the importance of consistent, evidence-based and trauma-informed practice that support both victim recovery and offender accountability.

It recognises that nowadays effective investigations rely not only on police capability, but also on strong partnerships and the ability to leverage expertise and resourcing across sectors.

Learn more: Australia and New Zealand Policing Strategy to Prevent and Respond to the Abuse and Exploitation of Children and Young People.

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