‘No action required’: A historical pattern of inaction and discretion towards child sexual abuse in Queensland policing

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.