BATTLE TO BEAT DV
TWO women are assaulted and six domestic violence orders breached on average in Townsville each day.
Today is White Ribbon Day, a moment for Australia to stand up and say no to violence against women and Townsville Police Chief Superintendent Kev Guteridge is using the occasion to call for cultural change.
Chief Supt Guteridge said the community’s awareness about the issue was improving but it was important for everyone to understand there was always an alternative to violence.
“Inroads have been made, largely through efforts of the community to step up and say this is not good enough,” Chief Supt Guteridge said.
“We need a cultural change with perpetrators … for them to understand violence will not be tolerated.
“We need a cultural change with some victims as well so they understand that nobody has to accept this as a part of life … unfortunately, in more vul- nerable communities there is a propensity not to report domestic violence and just accept it.”
Since January 1, 2017, there have been more than 1300 assaults recorded in Townsville, with more than 600 of those committed against women.
This includes common assault, assault occasioning bodily harm, grievous bodily harm, sexual assault and rape.
There have also been 1500 domestic violence orders made so far this year and 2200 breaches of domestic violence orders.
There were 74 strangulation with being women.
“Domestic reports of all victims violence is hor- rendous and people need to understand the people and a range of support services are available to help,” Chief Supt Guteridge said.
“Never, under any circumstances will we tolerate violence and we will prosecute offenders at any opportunity we can get.”
Chief Supt Guteridge said one way to influence change around domestic violence was to educate people from a young age and many Townsville schools were doing just that through registering with White Ribbon.
Vincent State School students had been learning how to communicate with each other and their teachers in a respectful way since they registered.
Deputy principal Bronwyn Espig said the students acknowledged White Ribbon Day yesterday by tying more than 120 ribbons to their school fence and displaying banners.
“The kids have been really good. They were really keen for the day and in the classrooms we did some role playing about the way we talk to each other,” Ms Espig said.
“I think it’s a small ripple to start with but the more and more we have practices like this in schools the better.”