A NEW police unit based out of Ballarat is solely focused on tackling the scourge of family violence.
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The unit, which officially came into operation on July 9, is seeing a team of detectives work to combat family violence incidents throughout the western region.
Detective Senior Sergeant Tony Coxall said the unit has come about as one of the key recommendations of the Family Violence Royal Commission.
“One of the 229 recommendations was for police to set up dedicated and skilled investigation units into family violence,” Detective Senior Sergeant Coxall said.
“Over the coming 10 months we will have people move into detective positions, eventually a full transition to investigation and response.”
Detective Senior Sergeant Coxall said the unit will act as an area of expertise particularly targeting high risk offenders and providing the necessary support for victims to come forward.
“Our frontline will attend every family violence incident in the first instance,” he said.
“There’s a training senior sergeant who has been appointed to the division so that member will work in conjunction with our unit to upskill all frontline members.
“There’s a new style of risk assessment which has been modelled from overseas research.
“We will continue to triage all family violence incidents and identify the high risk cases where the victim is at high risk or a high risk of recidivism.”
Detective Senior Sergeant Coxall said family violence was never black and white.
“There’s a mixture of emotions thrown into the mix. Our job is to help people to have the strength and resolve to stand up to family violence,” he said.
“It’s challenging and every case is unique, so we certainly don’t judge our victim-survivors. We understand there are complexities in their lives.”
He said children were often the overlooked victims of violence in the home.
“Members from the unit will be provided with specialist training, improving skills to deal with children who are often forgotten or overlooked,” he said.
“It’s a focus of this unit to recognise that children of all ages are conditioned by the effects of family violence, they live it, they are victims of it and it can become generational and accepted.”
Detective Senior Sergeant Coxall said different community groups including those from ethnically diverse backgrounds, the elderly, Aboriginal, same sex relationships and people living in rural areas would also be a support focus for the unit.
“Family violence is a crime, it manifests in so many different ways. I’m really confident we are on the right track.”