Action on violence

By Sarah Schwager
AS LOCAL police spoke on air in Cranbourne about the harmful effects of family violence, an announcement was made giving police increased powers to better protect victims.
At an official launch at Parliament House last Thursday, Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon said the new legislative changes would enable police to issue family violence safety notices outside court hours.
The notices enable police to immediately prohibit a perpetrator from contacting, harassing, threatening or assaulting their victim.
“Family violence incidents often occur in the evening, on weekends and during public holidays when courts are not in session,” Ms Nixon said.
“The new police powers will help protect victims from additional harm at times when they are most vulnerable and will enable us to provide appropriate intervention at the earliest opportunity.”
Meanwhile, police from the Casey family violence unit and representatives from various crisis services hosted an all-day radio program at Centro Cranbourne Shopping Centre on Casey Radio 97.7FM 3SER.
The program aimed to make the community more aware of the issue and help victims of family violence know that they were not alone and that there were services available to them.
It was in response to a growing number of reported family violence incidents in Casey, expected to grow to 2000 this year, the majority of those in Cranbourne.
The family violence unit was set up to have trained experts on hand to deal with domestic violence situations, which had previously been exhausting police resources.
The City of Casey family violence adviser, Acting Sergeant Andrea Kardos, raised a range of domestic violence issues during the broadcast along with other police officers and experts in the field.
“People do not have to put up with family violence and continue to suffer without seeking help,” Sgt Kardos said.
She said family violence encompassed not only physical injury but also direct or indirect threats, sexual assault, emotional and psychological torment, economic control, property damage, social isolation, and behaviour such as stalking, which could cause a person to fear for their safety.
Ms Nixon said violence against women and children was unacceptable and would not be tolerated at any time and the new police powers would send a clear message to perpetrators that they would be investigated and acted on, and victims would be protected and supported.
Breach of a family violence safety notice will be a criminal offence with a maximum penalty of two years’ imprisonment or a fine of more than $26,000.