The NSW Police Force has established an Australian-first specialist policing team to drive targeted prevention, disruption, and investigation responses to domestic and family violence in NSW.
Following the release of the NSW Auditor-General’s Report ‘Police responses to domestic and family violence’, NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb initiated the Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) Reform Project to change the way police respond to and prevent domestic violence.
The key objectives of the Reform Project included addressing the recommendations of the report and implementing strategies to target reoffending set out in the NSW Premier’s final report on DFV reoffending.
These reviews identified the need for significant structural and procedural changes within the organisation to meet current and future demands.
Today (Sunday 30 July 2023), Commissioner Webb announced the establishment of the DFV Registry, a centralised unit of subject matter experts with 24-hour capability to provide advice, guidance, and response to domestic and family violence incidents.
“Domestic and family violence is one of today’s most challenging and complex community issues; it feels like an epidemic. It is time for that to change,” the Commissioner said.
“I see the Domestic and Family Violence Registry as being central to that change, not just within our organisation, but also through improved collaboration with service providers, advocates, and other key stakeholders.
“The Registry is staffed by officers with expertise in domestic and family violence issues, including investigations and victim support, as well as legal and intelligence specialists and a consultant psychologist.
“It is my intention that we implement systems which reduce the admin and paperwork, so the focus is on supporting victims and ensuring they access agencies that help them escape the violence.
“With better outcomes for victims as the priority, this team will ensure we do everything we can to put policies, procedures, and checkpoints in place to create solutions for now and into the future.”
Minister for Police and Counter Terrorism Yasmin Catley said these vicious criminal assaults are occurring where people should feel the most safe – within their own homes.
“With a minuscule number of exceptions, it is men attacking women and children in their own homes. The terror and trauma are often as bad as the physical injuries inflicted,” Minister Catley said.
“It’s hard to think of many worse categories of crime.
“I support the NSWPF with everything the Government can bring to go after these perpetrators and put them in prison where they belong.
I welcome this new initiative from the NSWPF. Along with the Minister for Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, Jodie Harrison, I am visiting the new registry on Monday to get a full briefing on the ways it will benefit victims of domestic and family violence.”
The DFV Registry will support all NSW Police officers in the response to DFV by providing strategic oversight and optimising the use of resources, with expansive core functions including:
• Quality assurance and governance,
• Government reporting and auditing of police area commands and districts,
• Education and specialist training, assessment of new programs,
• Monitoring and escalation of high-risk offenders, and;
• Investigative strategy and capability development.
DFV Registry Commander, Superintendent Danielle Emerton, said the team’s functions will be similar to that of the Child Protection and Missing Persons Registries.
“All organisational information and intelligence relating to domestic and family violence will be fed into and reviewed by DFV Registry to develop strategies to reduce the incidences and threats of violence,” Supt Emerton said.
“We have a predictive model to analyse the likelihood that an offender will cause serious harm, which allows us to put strategies in place to neutralise the threat.
“An important part of managing this process is understanding the difference between repeat offenders and dangerous offenders – those whose intent, capability and access to their victim is escalated.
“Importantly, the systems we have in place help us to identify repeat victims quickly, so we can put them in contact with support services and guide them through the legal processes.”
Victims of domestic and family violence can also seek advice and services by contacting 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) or visiting: https://www.1800respect.org.au.
Reports of domestic and family-related crime or abuse can be made by contacting or attending your local police station. In an emergency or life-threatening situation, contact Triple Zero (000).
Anyone with information relating to domestic and family-related violence is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
