Evidence-Based Policing Hall of Fame

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Darren Green

Inducted May 2026

Nominated by Michael Newman (Queensland Police Service and Hall of Fame Member), David Cowan (Victoria Police and Hall of Fame Member), Justin Ready (Griffith University), Sarah Bennett (University of Queensland), and Geoffrey Alpert (University of South Carolina)

Biography:

Senior Sergeant Darren Green is the Tactician for the Ipswich District, with over 15 years of experience in the Queensland Police Service (QPS). Prior to his current role, he served in regional and country stations before becoming the Officer in Charge of an urban station. He has been recognized with several accolades for his work in evidence-based policing, including the Australian Crime and Violence Prevention Award and the Australian Road Safety Foundation’s Founder’s Award. In addition to his operational duties, Darren serves as an Adjunct Lecturer at The University of Queensland. Green holds a PhD in Criminology and was named an Honorary Fellow of the Academy of Experimental Criminology in 2025.

Evidence-Based Research and Practice:

Green has been the principal architect of a remarkable portfolio of research and institutionalization of evidence-based practices within the Queensland Police Service. As his nominators write, Green's work is defined by its ability to translate complex criminological theory into practical, high-impact strategies for operational police. For example, he designed and implemented the Precision Random Breath Test program, aligning testing with traffic crash locations using a randomized crossover design, creating significant reductions in injury traffic crashes. To prevent domestic violence, he designed a randomized controlled trial framework to intervene with potential victims and offenders earlier, which resulted in reductions of subsequent domestic and family violence. With colleagues, he co-developed an award-winning, successful strategy to increase engagement between offenders and police, aimed at reducing recidivism. In partnership with the Queensland Corrective Services, he also co-developed a strategy to reduce violent offender recidivism among high-risk parolees and helped to test whether the program reduced re-offending (which it did). These are just some examples of his more than 10 experimental studies in which he has been involved in designing, implementing, and testing interventions to reduce crime and recidivism. In 2025, he was recognized as an Honorary Fellow of the Academy of Experimental Criminology for this work.

Green's nominators emphasize, however, that he not only engages in testing new programs and approaches but also "has been a transformative leader in building institutional capacity." He designed and delivered the Practical Problem-Oriented Policing (POP) and Applied Hot Spot Policing courses, directly bridging academic theory and frontline practice. Green has established the Implementation and Innovation Mentor (I AIM) program, providing formal guidance to personnel of all ranks—from Constable to Assistant Commissioner—to foster a sustainable culture of inquiry. This work directly supports system delivery and community safety outcomes by equipping officers with the skills to develop their own evidence-based local solutions. Colleagues and admirers alike have recognized Green for these efforts. Among his many accolades, he has been awarded the Queensland Police Exemplary Conduct Medal for his evidence-based policing work with the QPS and the Distinguished Police Scientist Award from the Australia and New Zealand Society of Evidence Based Policing.

Green's nominators praise his work, stating that he "exemplifies the practitioner-academic model that the Hall of Fame seeks to honour. He has delivered proven, effective strategies that reduce victimisation and has equipped the QPS with the tools to continue this vital work, epitomising professional excellence and bringing great credit to the Queensland Police Service on the world stage."

Statement from Inductee:

To me, the heart of evidence-based policing is professional integrity. As police leaders, we have a responsibility to ensure that our strategies are not based on intuition alone, but on a rigorous commitment to understanding our actual impact on the communities we serve. This journey is about moving beyond "the way we’ve always done it" and embracing a culture of testing and transparency. My work has consistently focused on finding ground-up, data-driven solutions to complex public safety issues, ensuring that our efforts to reduce crime and improve community trust are backed by proven results.

For research to be truly effective, it must be translated into practical, high-impact strategies that make sense to the officer on the frontline. Bridging the gap between academic theory and operational planning is where we see the most significant gains in community safety—whether through precise road safety interventions or targeted recidivism reduction. By focusing on building organisational capability through programs like "I AIM" and Practical Problem-Oriented Policing, we empower personnel of all ranks to become architects of their own local solutions. Upskilling our workforce to embrace a sustainable culture of inquiry is essential to institutionalising these practices as a core standard of our profession.

Being inducted into the Hall of Fame is a profound honour that reflects the collaborative efforts of my colleagues at the Queensland Police Service and our academic partners. The true reward, however, lies in seeing evidence-led strategies deliver tangible reductions in victimisation and harm. As we look forward, our challenge is to ensure that the next generation of practitioners is equipped with the tools to continue this vital work, combining the craft of policing with the scientific method to ensure a safer and more just society for all.

Contributions to Grants, Publications, and Projects:

Links:

Green