Victoria Police's 47-page submission to the Royal Commission into Family Violence outlines several changes they believe are required to address the needs of victims and fix holes in the system.

The register that police have urged the commission to consider is based on a model used in Britain.

A person can access the register if they prove they are in a relationship with the individual whose record they are accessing, and agree to keep the information contained in the register confidential.

"The 'right to ask' applies to an individual who seeks information on any safety risks their partner may pose to themselves or to others (e.g. children)," the submission states.

"With strong safeguards on information release, clear criteria on which perpetrators to record in the register, and guidance to victims about how to act on such information, such an initiative could break the all-too-common pattern of perpetrators harming successive partners, and avoid exposing unwitting adults and children to known perpetrators of family violence."

Police suggest the register could also contain information that would be available under an employment check to determine whether a person could become a carer, guardian or disability support worker.

A significant shake-up of the court's handling of family violence is recommended by police, who would also be able to assign conditions regarding alcohol and drug use on intervention orders under their proposal.

The victim and offender would still have a right to appeal the intervention order and conditions at court under the police plan.

But handing police the power to issue intervention orders, which would reduce the use of Family Violence Safety Notices currently issued when police respond to an incident as a temporary measure, would reduce the burden on the victim and courts, according to the submission.

Family violence courts would also be established at 12 major magistrate courts across the state under the police plan.

Alleged family violence offenders would not have a presumption of bail, as is currently the case under the bail act, and would instead have to show cause.

The submission also calls for victim statements to be submitted as evidence, even if the victim does not attend court, "to minimise victim re-traumatisation".

The commission should consider making it mandatory for doctors, paramedics, and others who could come in contact with family violence victims to report the abuse, the police submission suggests.

Support services and medical professionals should also be trained to provide safety tips for victims, including how to disable location services on their smartphones so an offender cannot track them, and other cyber measures.

This measure should be implemented within a year, police submitted.

The force also urges that a sector-wide risk assessment framework, that also allowed responses to be triaged to child victims, should be implemented in the short-term.

Other options for reporting violence, including online options and victims being able to tell agencies that have reporting arrangements with Victoria Police about their abuse, and the promotion of a central, anonymous advice line, should also occur within the next year, according to the submission.

Police suggest there is a pressing need for additional funding for support agencies that provide crisis accommodation or assistance for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and culturally and linguistically diverse communities, people with a disability, victims from the gay community, regional Victorians, and female, adolescent and non-intimate partner perpetrators.

Submissions to the commission closed in May, and findings are due to be delivered to the state government on February 29 next year.

For help in a crisis call 000. For help or information regarding domestic violence call the Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service 1800 737 732 or www.1800respect.org.au.
The Men's Referral Service 1300 766 491