The police in Queensland, Australia, recognize that their first responsibility is to protect the child and that their second responsibility is to gather evidence for a possible prosecution. The police are part of the multidisciplinary Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect (SCAN) teams first established in Queensland in 1980. These teams also include a medical practitioner and a social worker. The police members of these teams have several roles. They should regularly attend meetings, offer advice regarding the strength of the available evidence, and have an initial involvement in investigating cases where sexual abuse or serious physical injury is reported. They should also initiate court proceedings to protect children who are at risk of further serious abuse and should arrange police assistance to other agencies regarding information, protection, or training. They should also aid in monitoring children and parents and cooperate with other police involved in cases the SCAN team is discussing. The experience in Queensland shows that their role can be constructive and that proper training of both police and social workers, as well as interagency cooperation, are crucial factors in successful intervention. Discussions about who should receive and investigate child abuse complaints should focus more on the issue of training and the necessity of interagency cooperation. Case example.