A NEW app is expected to help police tackle family violence across Victoria.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The new Family Violence Response app provides police with guidelines about what family violence looks like and how to deal with it, as well as suggestions on the best questions to ask.
It has been developed in partnership with Swinburne University and Forensicare Victorian Institute of Forensic Mental Health.
Detective Senior Sergeant Peter Robertson, of Horsham, has worked in family violence prevention throughout his career and said police will be better equipped to manage reports.
"The FVR includes guidelines about jealous and controlling behaviour, children, non-fatal strangulation, and threatening behaviour," he said.
"It also provides frontline police with more accurate identification and risk assessment, and provides them with support and guidance when responding to family violence incidents."
Identification and risk assessment refers to helping police identify cases that may need officers to involve partner agencies.
These can include the Department of Health and Human Services as well as other assistance agencies.
He said the Wimmera division already had a family violence specialist serving the Wimmera, Northern Grampians and Ararat region.
"By the end of 2019 the unit will be staffed by a Detective Sergeant and four investigators, with two family violence analysts," he said.
This will help police with family violence in rural areas.
"I think the impact of mental health, alcohol and other drugs, as well as isolation and lack of access to services is probably more keenly felt in regional areas, and that's something I know police and sector service partners are working hard to address," he said.
"We take it seriously. It's an insidious situation and often there are no independent witnesses."
In Ararat, police recorded 246 incidents of family violence in the 2017-18 financial year.
In Northern Grampians the figure was 202 and in Horsham it was 507.
- If you, or someone you know, is impacted by family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732; in an emergency, call 000.
While you're with us, you can now receive updates straight to your inbox each Friday morning from the Ararat Advertiser. To make sure you're up-to-date with all the news from Ararat and districts, sign up here.