Success from DV program

Police are cautiously welcoming a drop in instances of highrisk domestic violence perpetrators reoffending.

The drop is the result of work done through the Darling Downs Domestic, Family Violence and Vulnerable Person Unit.

It launched two years ago and was tasked with tracking the region’s high-risk offenders and proactively engaging with them.

Senior Sergeant Jerome Winslade said the team addressed domestic and family violence in the community by ensuring victim-survivors receive comprehensive support services to navigate and safely exit difficult and dangerous situations.

“The team recently facilitated a successful intervention to safeguard an at-risk victimsurvivor who connected with the unit after fleeing her home to escape a relationship and then coming under further threat after the perpetrator discovered her location, exposing her and her children to potential harm,” he said.

“Through collaborative efforts with local non-governmental agencies and support organisations, the unit swiftly intervened to protect the victim-survivor from the dangerous situation.

“They facilitated relocation, secured temporary accommodation, and implemented security measures to reduce possible risks to the victim-survivor and her children.

“This approach resulted in the victim-survivor transitioning to a safer environment within a day – free from further incidents.”

Domestic violence accounts for an increasing share of police case loads.

Part of this is the result of increasing awareness around domestic violence and the willingness of victims to come forward.

In 2003 Darling Downs police recorded 436 breaches in domestic violence protection orders- two decades later that number had risen to 2988.