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Police must take all reports of family violence seriously otherwise it could lead to fatalities, the Police Association of Tasmania says. This comes after a coroner found inaction by Tasmania Police and unfortunate legal advice left a woman who was murdered by her estranged husband in 2015 unprotected. READ MORE: Olga Neubert sought protection from police in the month before her murder PAT president Colin Riley said the family violence matters police dealt with were complex, often involving emotions and children. “At times victims are uncooperative with police and there are reports of repeat victims who continue to remain in the relationships and often go back even when our members place non-approach conditions on the offender,” Mr Riley said. “It’s heartbreaking sometimes because you know they will go back but they have to be taken seriously on each occasion.” Mr Riley said police were dealing with an increased workload of family violence matters following a rise in reporting. “This aspect of policing has evolved and become core business for our members,” he said. “As such the response has to be resourced, specifically first responders. “The Liberal government has positively committed to an additional 125 new police officers in this term of government with the vast majority going to first responder roles and they will directly help this problem. “The Safe at Home program now involves all government agencies and weekly inter-agency committee discussions support to families – the care taken is far more than ever before.” He said dealing with family violence incidents was extremely time consuming for officers. “A breach of a family violence order where the offender is arrested can easily take six plus hours for two officers to complete with incident attendance, statement taking, risk assessments, electronic reporting on a variety of systems, safety auditors, arresting the offender, interviews, charging and completing the court file,” Mr Riley said. “Members starting their shifts on 24 hour stations can have a list anywhere between six to 15 offenders requiring apprehension on any one day for family violence.” Tasmania Police Acting Assistant Commissioner Specialist Support Tim Dooley said all officers received extensive training which allowed them to respond to reports of family violence and determine an appropriate response in each circumstance. “Each of the police districts across the state have specialist Family Violence Units that focus on enhancing victim and affected children’s safety, providing support in crisis situations and holding perpetrators to account,” Acting Assistant Commissioner Dooley said. He said Tasmania Police collaborated with other government departments through the Safe at Home integrated service system when dealing with family violence matters. “It involves a range of services working together to protect and support adult and child victims of family violence, while ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable for their behaviour,” he said.
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Police must take all reports of family violence seriously otherwise it could lead to fatalities, the Police Association of Tasmania says.
This comes after a coroner found inaction by Tasmania Police and unfortunate legal advice left a woman who was murdered by her estranged husband in 2015 unprotected.
PAT president Colin Riley said the family violence matters police dealt with were complex, often involving emotions and children.
“At times victims are uncooperative with police and there are reports of repeat victims who continue to remain in the relationships and often go back even when our members place non-approach conditions on the offender,” Mr Riley said.
“It’s heartbreaking sometimes because you know they will go back but they have to be taken seriously on each occasion.”
Mr Riley said police were dealing with an increased workload of family violence matters following a rise in reporting.
“This aspect of policing has evolved and become core business for our members,” he said.
“As such the response has to be resourced, specifically first responders.
“The Liberal government has positively committed to an additional 125 new police officers in this term of government with the vast majority going to first responder roles and they will directly help this problem.
“The Safe at Home program now involves all government agencies and weekly inter-agency committee discussions support to families – the care taken is far more than ever before.”
He said dealing with family violence incidents was extremely time consuming for officers.
“A breach of a family violence order where the offender is arrested can easily take six plus hours for two officers to complete with incident attendance, statement taking, risk assessments, electronic reporting on a variety of systems, safety auditors, arresting the offender, interviews, charging and completing the court file,” Mr Riley said.
“Members starting their shifts on 24 hour stations can have a list anywhere between six to 15 offenders requiring apprehension on any one day for family violence.”
Tasmania Police Acting Assistant Commissioner Specialist Support Tim Dooley said all officers received extensive training which allowed them to respond to reports of family violence and determine an appropriate response in each circumstance.
“Each of the police districts across the state have specialist Family Violence Units that focus on enhancing victim and affected children’s safety, providing support in crisis situations and holding perpetrators to account,” Acting Assistant Commissioner Dooley said.
He said Tasmania Police collaborated with other government departments through the Safe at Home integrated service system when dealing with family violence matters.
“It involves a range of services working together to protect and support adult and child victims of family violence, while ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable for their behaviour,” he said.
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