$4m to train police on coercive control and technology-assisted DV abuse

More than $7 million of funding will be unveiled to retrain police across the country, and reshape how the justice system responds to family, domestic and sexual violence.

Police will be better trained to identify complex cases of domestic violence involving coercive control and technology-assisted abuse to support survivors who previously fell through the cracks of the justice system.

The new national training will be delivered across the country through a $4.1 million funding package over the next four years to ensure police are equipped to provide trauma-informed support people who have experienced family, domestic and sexual violence.

The federal government will also on Monday unveil $3.3m to improve the justice system’s response to these cases, including funding a study to develop an alternate reporting system for sexual violence victims who do not necessarily wish to initiate criminal proceedings.

At least 14 women have been killed as a result of alleged domestic violence across Australia so far this year, including the latest victim, 21-year-old Newcastle mum Mackenzie Anderson.

Ms Anderson died from injuries sustained when her ex-partner Tyrone Thompson allegedly broke into her home and stabbed her repeatedly.

Newcastle mum MacKenzie Anderson was allegedly stabbed more than 20 times by her ex-partner Tyrone Thompson. Picture: Tiktok

Women’s Safety Minister Anne Ruston said the government’s “priority” was to listen to the voice and needs of survivors, victims and their loved ones.

“We must ensure that police and the justice system are equipped to best support victim-survivors understanding the challenges around burden of proof and the risk of victim blaming and re-traumatisation which can be significant deterrents for reporting sexual assault and violence,” she said.

Home Affairs Karen Andrews said the study would inform the design and implementation of an alternative reporting mechanism for sexual violence in Australia

“An alternative reporting mechanism will provide a safe pathway to report sexual assault,” she said.

Police across Australia will receive training to better equip them to respond to complicated domestic violence situations. Picture: Toby Zerna

“In addition to increasing the options available to report sexual assault, this will assist in gathering accurate information on the incidence of sexual assault in Australian communities.”

Ms Andrews said the funding for police training would ensure law enforcement agencies were able to effectively identify and support those in need.

“The development and delivery of a national best practice package of educational materials that seek to train law enforcement on complex matters and that can complement other training for justice officials will drive a holistic approach to reducing the trauma victim-survivors experience,” she said.

Hannah Clarke and her three kids were murdered by her ex-husband.

The failures of Australia’s policing and justice system have been highlighted in the inquest into the murders of Queensland mum Hannah Clarke and her children.

The findings of the inquest will not be released until June, though the evidence given included examples of numerous red flags raised after Ms Clarke left her ex-husband, which were still not enough for authorities to place more severe penalties or restrictions on him.

Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers told the inquest many frontline police responding to domestic violence calls were junior officers with the least experience and training.

“A lot of police feel like, with the lack of training, they’re actually letting victims and the community down through no fault of their own,” he said.

Originally published as $4m to train police on coercive control and technology-assisted DV abuse