East Gippsland is tackling a family violence epidemic.
Crime Statistics Agency data indicates that reporting of family violence has increased in East Gippsland over the past 12 months and it is a trend Bairnsdale Police say will continue to increase due to the current cost of living crisis.
“Drug and alcohol use, recent separation, mental health and recent childbirth are also some of the factors contributing to this increase,” Sergeant Prad Pai, Family Violence Liaison Officer, said.
East Gippsland recorded 1783 family violence incidents during 2023, 1332 against females and 441 against men. Per population of 100,000, East Gippsland topped the state ahead of other regional Local Government Areas (LGA) including Mildura, Latrobe, Horsham and Ararat. A much smaller percentage was recorded in metropolitan LGAs.
The vast majority of reported incidents in East Gippsland during 2022/23 fall under the verbal (39.3 per cent) and emotional (32.2 per cent) abuse. Of the reported incidents in the region, 941 were breaches of family violence orders.
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Multiple offences may be recorded at a single incident, including multiple offences of the same type. “Family violence is more than physical violence. Family violence includes a range of behaviours including depriving a family member of their basic financial needs, emotional abuse, psychological abuse, constant verbal abuse or belittling and controlling behaviours etc,” Sgt Pai said.
“Children who are exposed to family violence in the household on a regular basis may tend to perceive this as normal behaviour and are more likely to commit family violence in the future so it is important that they are aware of what is and is not acceptable.
“The Proactive Policing Unit at Bairnsdale are regularly engaging with local schools and educating young people to identify and abstain from these behaviours.”
Sgt Pai said intervention orders are a great tool to protect victims of family violence from further abuse, but it can only be effectively enforced when victims report any contravention of the order to police.
“Police in East Gippsland have effectively used their legislative powers via the judicial system to hold family violence perpetrators to account especially the ones engaging in repeat offending,” he said.
“Bairnsdale police frontline officers in collaboration with the Family Violence Investigation Unit have strategies in place to identify and disrupt family violence and change the perception and attitude of the society towards family violence.
“Early intervention is the key to reducing long term harm and trauma to victims and present an opportunity to link them in with support services early. The range of services provided by support agencies in vast and caters to individual needs of their clients.”
Police are urging the community members to be more patient and tolerant with their family members and support them to break this pattern of behaviour of family violence.
“Anyone who has either been subject to family violence, witnessed it or know someone who needs assistance, please report it to police promptly and be assured they will be protected and supported,” Sgt Pai said.
“We understand the effect family violence has on the community and its significant flow on effect on families and surrounding communities.
“The message is very clear to the perpetrators – say no to committing family violence because you will be held accountable.”
* Statistics: Crime Statistics Agency
