‘This is about lives’: DV murder spike prompts government action

More than 100 specialist domestic violence officers will be rolled out in wake of shocking new data showing an increase in those being murdered by people they know.

More than 100 specialist domestic violence officers will be rolled out in a few months, police say, in wake of shocking new data showing an increase in those being murdered by people they know.

It comes after The Courier-Mail revealed in December that police were behind schedule to hire 114 specialist domestic violence officers across the state, or set up Vulnerable Persons Units in every district by May this year.

The goal – a recommendation off the back of the damning Commission of Inquiry (COI) into police response to domestic and family violence – is a step closer to being realised, after police announced the positions had been approved.

Initially, police said it could be another two years before those roles were filled.

Domestic and Family Violence Command Assistant Commissioner Chris Jory said advertising for the positions had begun, and stated recruitment had been the issue.

Assistant Commissioner Christopher Jory, Queensland Police Academy, Oxley. Picture: Liam Kidston

“Just like other parts of the community, we are working really hard to recruit additional police personnel to support the community in our response to domestic and family violence,” Mr Jory said.

It comes after The Courier-Mail revealed on Wednesday 24 people had been murdered by someone they knew in the last financial year, compared to just 16 the previous year.

Domestic violence orders were in place for six of those more recent murders, and a third of the accused had contact with police in the 12 months leading up to the death.

Mr Jory said each number represented someone who was loved.

“This can’t be about numbers. This is about lives,” Mr Jory said.

“This is about those families that are impacted by domestic and family violence in the worst way possible.

Minister for Police Mark Ryan. Picture: Liam Kidston

“There is a lot of work that not only we are doing with our community partners and other government agencies … but ultimately there is a responsibility of the whole community.

“That is, in particular, men. For men to speak out against violence against women and children.”

The COI made 78 recommendations for police to improve its response to domestic and family violence after the report highlighted serious failings towards victims.

Police Minister Mark Ryan said police were committed to implementing the recommendations.

“Those recommendations are in progress,” Mr Ryan said.

“Queensland Police Service takes them seriously, the government takes them seriously … we all want to see this scourge eliminated and we are all committed to doing that.”

“For me, one tragedy is one too many, one tragedy is an emergency.”

More than 680 recruits were currently in training at Queensland Police Academies across the state – the largest number of recruits ever – who would all undergo an extended period of training on domestic violence.

Mr Ryan said it would mean they would be some of the “best trained police officers in the nation” when it came to domestic violence.