In what is believed to be a world-first, the Queensland Police Service has become the largest user of Axon Citizen by implementing a technology product that allows the community to easily upload digital evidence such as video footage and photographs to the Police Service.
The new technology capability will be specifically used to enable members of the public to upload vision of hooning behaviour which the Police Service can then use to take action under Australia's toughest and strongest anti-hoon legislation.
With this initiative, the Queensland Police Service cements itself as the largest use of technology produced by Axon Citizen, which has 20,000 customers worldwide and includes the Metropolitan Police (UK) and the LAPD (USA).
As a result, Axon Citizen's International Vice-President is visiting Queensland next week to acknowledge that no one else in the world is collecting evidence from the community in this way and that the Queensland Police Service has positioned itself as a world leader in this space.
Police Minister Mark Ryan praised the Queensland Police Service for once again demonstrating its willingness to always look for innovative ways of supporting community safety.
"When it comes to technology, Queensland police are early adopters.
"This new initiative is yet another example of why the Queensland Police Service is truly world class."
Assistant Commissioner Ben Marcus of the Road Policing and Regional Support Command said the new upload capability was already producing results.
"The on-line facility has only been operating for a matter of weeks and already the community has responded providing police with critical pieces of evidence.
"The support and cooperation of the community is very important to police work, and this upload capability provides another significant way in which members of the public can assist police.
"It is important to note that this web-based platform for collecting evidence also meets the Queensland Police Services' stringent cybersecurity guidelines and is also used for storing police Body Worn Camera footage."
Minister Ryan said this new technology capability complemented the nation-leading anti-hoon laws which assist police with apprehending and prosecuting more offenders. Those new laws (known as owner onus or driver deeming laws) mean that the registered owner of a car must prove he or she was not driving the vehicle at the time of the offence or else face the consequences, similar to the arrangements that occur with a speeding offence detected by a speed camera.
Along with some of the toughest penalties in the nation, this significant legal advantage for the Queensland Police Service sets Queensland apart from other Australian jurisdictions.
In addition to penalties for hooning related offences of fines of up to $5,338 and terms of imprisonment up to 6 months, hoons also face having their vehicle impounded or immobilised.
By way of example, in 2021, more than 4,000 vehicles were impounded or were immobilised or had their number plates confiscated by the Queensland Police Service for hooning-related offences.
Police Minister Mark Ryan commended the Queensland Police Service for its proactive approach to dangerous drivers.
"I know that police will never let up taking strong action against hooning because even one hoon offence is one too many.
"The government is backing police with the laws, the technology and the resources they need to support community safety.
"The government will always back police one hundred percent in their efforts.
"That's why the government is making the biggest investment in policing in more than three decades, an investment that will deliver more than 2,000 extra police personnel, and a minimum of 150 extra police officers to each police region across Queensland.
"In addition, police now have access to new surveillance cameras with an enhanced night-vision capability, making it much easier for police to relentlessly target hoon drivers."
