Providing personal contact for victims
by Yvette Brand Building personal relationships so that victims of family violence feel comfortable talking to police is one of the aims of a specialised family violence unit at Warragul.
Warragul Police senior constables Rebecca Johnson and Scott McPherson are heading up the new dedicated family violence unit launched at Warragul at the start of this month.
With other units already active across the region, eastern region family violence manager senior sergeant Howard Jones said a specialised unit at Baw Baw was long overdue.
Units in the Latrobe and Bass Coast police services areas have been working well and Mr Jones said they expected the Baw Baw unit will achieve similar results.
“It is a service that has been lacking in this area.
“We have had a lot of success with units in other areas. Victoria Police is looking to increase the amount of reporting of family violence incidents.
“We know there are a lot of unreported incidents. There are a lot of people suffering and they think there is no way out but we can provide a way out.
“We encourage people to come forward and report violence,” he said.
Mr Jones said in the past police hadn’t provided the ideal response so some victims were reluctant to report violence because they thought they wouldn’t be believed or the response would be slow.
“We hope people will feel more comfortable in reporting to the unit,” he said.
Mr McPherson said they wanted to provide a personal response.
“Hopefully as they get to know us they will feel more comfortable reporting to us,” he said.
Ms Johnson said they would particularly focus on recidivist offenders and providing support to high risk victims.
“We will be pro-active. These people are often known to us because we have worked in uniform (police) for a long time.
“It’s about us going out to homes. If there is an intervention order in place and they (offenders) are there, then we will immediately take them into custody.
Ms Johnson said having a specialised family violence unit meant they could dedicate their time to family violence incidents and support, rather than being called out for other duties.
Mr Jones said it was Victoria Police’s aim to have specialised family violence units in all areas of the state.
He said Baw Baw was previously covered to some extent by the Latrobe unit but local officers responding to local situations was a better outcome.
State wide figures, according to Mr Jones, have reflected a reduction in the number of family violence incidents reported over the past 12 months.
He said this reduction was largely due to the reduction in recidivist offences, which had traditionally driven figures up.
“There’s been a reduction in reported family violence but not a reduction in family violence in the community – we know that through the level of reports to support agencies,” he said.
Mr Jones said the unit would work closely with support agencies.
“We’re not just focussing on perpetrators. It’s about looking after the victims,” he said.
The family violence unit for Baw Baw police services area is based at Warragul Police Station.
Anyone wanting to report family violence or seek assistance can contact the family violence unit (5622 7111) or RESPECT (1800 737732). In emergency situations, phone triple zero (000).