Nowhere to hide: Police track down domestic violence offenders in ‘day of action’
Crime editor Kate Kyriacou was invited to observe as 50 police worked to track down 200 alleged domestic violence offenders who breached their orders in a “day of action” in Brisbane’s south. Here is what she saw.
Police & Courts
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At the back of a brick home, behind a door, wearing nothing but his underwear, they find the man they were looking for.
He’d been sheltered by the very person who’d asked them for help – a show of how complex a problem police face as they deal with domestic violence every day.
It was a South Brisbane district’s “day of action” – the day when every available officer hits the ground in an effort to find the area’s outstanding domestic violence offenders.
Nearly 50 police spent Monday attempting to track down more than 200 offenders wanted over breaches of domestic violence orders.
The breaches ranged from sending text messages or emails to acts of violence.
Many have remained elusive, with police unsuccessful in their attempts to track them down between other more urgent jobs.
But Monday’s effort resulted in 68 breaches investigated and 14 people located and charged with a total of 51 offences.
The Courier-Mail was invited to observe as police visited a series of properties in Brisbane’s south looking for some of those on the list.
“We might go to the same house 10 times looking for someone,” an officer explained.
Two officers approach the front door of a low-set brick home and knock.
A woman – the complainant – speaks to them from behind a security door.
She tells them she doesn’t know where he is, but they’ve spotted his car in the driveway.
Polite but firm, they tell her they have reason to suspect he’s inside, that they intend to search the house. She objects.
And he’s there, at the back of the house, hiding behind a door.
He is polite as the two officers lead him to the van in cuffs.
He’d been wanted for multiple breaches of a domestic violence order, mainly for contacting her.
But his history also involved allegations of violence, including that he’d thrown a set of keys in her face.
At another address, police search for a man who’d got into a violent argument with his former partner.
Both had domestic violence orders against each other but the woman had permission to be at the man’s home to see their children.
He’d arrived home and told her to leave – he didn’t want his new girlfriend to see her – and their argument turned violent.
The man was not home and curious neighbours did not know where he worked.
Another crew searching for offenders find a man who’d breached his order by calling and sending Facebook messages to his former partner.
When police track him down, he explains he thought “no contact” meant no “face-to-face” contact. They serve him with a notice to appear.
At another house, police attempt to find a man who’d dated a woman for just three months but six months on was still having trouble letting go.
He’d twice arrived at the woman’s home with his possessions and attempted to move in.
He too remained elusive.
At a local shopping centre, Senior Constable Ben Oldham manned the Oxley mobile police beat – a large van that can act as a movable police station.
On Monday, his role involved speaking to members of the community about where they can access help if someone in their life is affected by domestic violence.
He says, on average, 20 per cent of the people who approach him mention domestic violence at some point during the conversation.
While we’re there, an elderly man walks over to discuss a family member he is worried about.
Detective Senior Constable Rebecca Tilse from the South Brisbane District Vulnerable Persons Unit said her team makes assessments on domestic violence offenders and their risk levels – which may change depending on the person’s circumstances.
“We look at things like drug criminal history or whether they are prolifically offending,” she said.
“One of the things we’ve talked about a lot is, generally, if someone is off the rails in one area of crime, then they are off the rails for everything.
“If they are a property offender who is getting picked up, or they’re a suspect for a lot of property offences … then we would see that as (a circumstance where) we should probably monitor that person for domestic violence offences.
“Because they are not in control.
“People are more likely to commit serious violent offending against those close to them if they are off the rails.”
Sen Const. Tilse said aside from “days of action”, police were always looking for offenders who breached domestic violence orders, adding officers could come knocking “anywhere, anytime”.
Do you need help?
DV Connect: 1800 811 811
Relationships Australia: 1300 364 277
Men’s line: 1800 600 636
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