The state’s most dangerous family violence perpetrators have been warned there’s nowhere to hide as a Victoria Police crackdown leads to a record number of offenders being arrested and brought before the courts each day.
Victoria Police said frontline police and specialised teams – including Family Violence Investigation Units and the Family Violence Command Taskforce – are proactively targeting and apprehending offenders for family violence crimes to ensure the safety of victim-survivors.
Crime Statistics Agency figures show 29,233 family violence offenders were either arrested or summonsed to court last year. It equates to an average of 80 arrests or summons to court each day.
The figures are up slightly on the prior year when an average 79 arrests or summons were made each day.
That’s one person arrested or brought before the courts for family violence offending every 18 minutes.
The vast majority of offenders were arrested for serious family violence crimes, as well as actively avoiding police detection, outstanding warrants or unserved family violence intervention orders (IVO), stalking and making threats.
Family Violence Command Assistant Commissioner Lauren Callaway said these figures highlight Victoria Police’s continual efforts in tracking down family violence offenders, some of the worst in the state.
“Family violence is completely unacceptable and there is never an excuse or justification for the crime,” she said.
“We have thousands of police officers across Victoria working tirelessly to apprehend family violence perpetrators and bring them before the courts to ensure the safety of victim-survivors.
“We need family violence perpetrators to stop and really think of the damage they are doing to their partners and children.
“Some go to great lengths to avoid apprehension – including blackmailing victim-survivors or using friends to keep them in hiding – but they’re always in the sights of police.
“Our message to family violence perpetrators is clear: closed doors will not protect you from being tracked down and held to account.”
If you are concerned about your own or someone else’s behaviour support services are available. No to Violence runs a Men’s Referral Service which helps men who use violence to change their behaviour and can be contacted on 1300 766 491.
If you or someone close to you discloses they are a victim of family violence, please believe them and encourage them to contact police or a support service.
Support is available 24 hours a day through Safe Steps by calling 1800 015 188 or emailing safesteps@safesteps.org.au
In an emergency call Triple-0 (000). If you can’t get to a phone, ask someone else to do it for you.
