Specialist branch to oversee all domestic violence investigations

A FAMILY and Domestic Violence Branch is being created within the Police Department in the latest move following the controversial Zahra Abrahimzadeh case.

A DEDICATED police unit to improve the response to and investigation and prosecution of domestic violence incidents is being established.

The Family and Domestic Violence Branch will oversee all investigation sections and ensure a more co-ordinated and focused response by police to domestic violence reported by victims or detected by other agencies.

READ MORE: Mum seeks mandatory sentencing for domestic violence

The branch’s establishment follows a comprehensive internal review of police practices, policies and procedures in the wake of the murder of domestic abuse victim Zahra Abrahimzadeh.

The internal review made 48 recommendations to improve police practices and procedures that were provided to Coroner Mark Johns before his inquest into the Abrahimzadeh case.

In his findings, Mr Johns identified deficiencies in police practices and procedures that culminated in her being fatally stabbed by her husband, Ziaolla, at the Adelaide Convention Centre in 2010 after a history of domestic abuse. Nr Johns made a further 10 recommendations for internal changes.

Deputy Police Commissioner Grant Stevens yesterday said the formation of the branch, understood to be the first of its type in any state, was in addition to the adoption of both the internal review and coronial recommendations and was “another opportunity to improve’’ SAPOL’s response to domestic violence.

“As a result of the failures by SAPOL in the Zahra Abrahimzadeh case there was a need for us to review how we actually managed domestic violence as an organisation,’’ he said.

“We did have reasonably strong policies and procedures documented. The service delivery issues we documented through our own review suggested there was an opportunity for us to be better co-ordinated across the domestic violence portfolio.

“This new branch will have authority and oversight for all domestic violence related functions across the organisation ...

“Each family violence investigation section will continue working as they do ... but this new branch will have oversight of their functional approach.

“It will ensure our services are all aligned, there is no duplication, we have consistency and co-ordination and that we can identify best practice and also ensure compliance with this across all areas. ’’

Mr Stevens said the new branch would be led by detective Superintendent Joanne Shanahan.

Mrs Abrahimzadeh’s son, Arman, yesterday welcomed the news.

“I think it is a positive move not just for the public, but also for police themselves to be more effective,’’ he said.