Vulnerable Victims

Introduction

Vulnerable victims are those who are susceptible to becoming victims of violence because of their limited capacity to protect and remove themselves from danger. Generally speaking, criminal investigations involving vulnerable victims are protracted, sensitive and labour-intensive. The investigations can be particularly complex and challenging to carry out using conventional law enforcement powers. For cases where conventional practices have not proved effective, the Queensland Police Service (QPS) may request access to the special investigative powers of the Crime and Misconduct Commission (CMC), if it is considered that the use of the coercive hearings power may benefit the investigation. Historically, these types of investigations were referred to the CMC on a case-by-case basis at the request of the Commissioner of Police.

The CMC’s vulnerable victims research program was established to help the CMC to conduct coercive hearings under the new referral. Papers in the vulnerable victims research program review published literature from a range of subject...