SPECIAL SERIES BEGINS: OUR FAMILY VIOLENCE BATTLE
FAMILY violence incidents jumped by 20 per cent in the year to September 2020, with police called to an average of 2.7 cases in greater Geelong every day.
The alarming new family violence data shows 1099 incidents were recorded by police in the region in the 12 months to September 2020, up from 913 in 2019.
Family violence serious assault offences have soared 119 per cent between 2010 and 2020.
In greater Geelong, there were 398 family violence serious assault offences recorded in the 12 months to September last year and 613 family violence common offences. Offences recorded across other family violence categories also grew, including stalking (78), harassment (88) and threatening behaviour (214).
Geelong police family violence intervention unit Detective Senior Sergeant Nick Uebergang said police would hold perpetrators of family violence to account.
“Our specialised team of detectives provide dedicated service to family violence victims and work collaboratively with other agencies to continually enhance our response to this offending so the risk to victims and survivors is reduced,” he said. “We see first-hand the devastating impact of family violence and our message (to victims) … is simple — everyone has a right to live a life free of violence and if you contact Victoria Police, we will act swiftly and decisively to keep you safe.”
Statewide, the number of people seeking accommodation from a homelessness agency because
of family violence increased by 9.9 per cent in the 2020 July-September quarter, compared with the same period in 2019. The number of clients seeking shelter from an agency for women and children victims of family violence increased by 28.1 per cent (843 clients) in the third quarter of 2020 from the same time in 2019.
Leading Barwon region support agency the Sexual Assault and Family Violence centre supported 4206 clients in the 2019-20 financial year and provided therapeutic services to 3004 adults and young people.
In this period, 959 women, children and young people received family violence case management and 157 young people and children had therapeutic treatment for problem sexual and sexually abusive behaviours.