Seeking help key in combating violence
THE scourge of domestic violence has not loosened its grip on the Townsville region over the past year, with police continuing to answer over 10,000 Dv-related calls annually.
Speaking out during Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month, Vulnerable Persons Unit (VPU) officer in charge Sergeant Elise Feltham and Acting Chief Superintendent Chris Lawson urged community members to reach out to DV victims and perpetrators, to encourage them to seek help. Waging a daily battle to bring the societal problem under control, Sergeant Feltham said DV was an Australia-wide problem.
“About 40 per cent of our calls for service are domestic and family violence related,” Sergeant Feltham said.
“In relation to paperwork and the continuing investigation, 40 to 50 per cent of the police officers’ time will be taken up.
“When families get together, we can see a lot more calls for service and those peak times.
“We find that alcohol and drugs can also make matters worse.”
She said the power and control component of domestic and family violence was extremely serious and sometimes the first act of physical violence was a homicide.
To help reduce the burden for local officers, she said the VPU had received additional funding to grow the team from four to 10 over the past year, with another two people about to join, and two mental health co-responders.
“We support the officers that do respond but in relation to case management and the overseeing and being able to go into the community and share the messages that we need to share,” she said.
“We’re very offender focused here in Townsville district because ultimately, victims are safe if we can educate the perpetrators to stop that behaviour and stop that offending.”
In a current operation, the VPU was going into the prisons to confront the most extreme offenders after being contacted by Corrective Services regarding concerning communications through jail telephone systems.
“We re-serve their orders and have a lengthy discussion with them to talk about what triggers their behaviours and how they can get help and we’ve had a very positive response back.”
In another operation, the VPU was conducting home visits with people who were only just beginning to experience domestic and family violence to refer them to support agencies and to try to prevent any further offending.
Call triple-0 if you are in danger. For a 24 hour Domestic Violence Helpline, contact DVCONNECT on 1800 811 811 or 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732).