Victoria Police pledges family violence deaths review
POLICE will launch a comprehensive review of deaths caused by family violence in a bid to prevent more women being murdered by current or former partners.
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POLICE will launch a comprehensive review of deaths caused by family violence, in a bid to prevent more.
Cases will be re-examined to identify what could have been done better. Initial work is already under way.
Victoria Police confirmed to the Sunday Herald Sun it would review cases where there had been a documented police history of violence between the deceased and attacker.
It follows a spate of women’s deaths at the alleged hands of current or former partners, including that of Cowes mother-of-three Samantha Fraser.
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Victoria Police said in a statement: “We are absolutely committed to reducing the prevalence of family violence and the significant harm perpetrators of these crimes cause to victims.”
State Coroner Sara Hinchey, in her finding into the 2011 death of Rye woman Joy Maree Rowley on Thursday, called for a sweeping Victoria Police review of all family violence deaths involving a prior history of conflict.
The court found Ms Rowley’s former partner, James Mulhall, had caused Ms Rowley’s death while he was already facing criminal charges for a serious assault on her.
Victoria Police apologised for its handling of the case, acknowledging there were eight occasions when officers could have altered the course of events.
The force said: “Victoria Police notes the State Coroner’s findings from the inquest. In anticipation of the recommendations, we had already commenced assessing how to implement systemic reviews of family-violence related homicides.
“As per Coroner Hinchey’s comments, the review process will need to assess, on a case-by-case basis, the timing of such reviews so that they do not compromise other systemic reviews, such as a homicide investigation.
Domestic Violence Victoria chief executive officer Fiona McCormack said she hoped the force’s review would give women greater confidence in reporting violence.
Ms McCormack said seven Victorian women had been murdered in the past 11 weeks, most of them allegedly at the hands of men known to them.
“Whenever there is a family violence-related murder, it’s really important that we reflect and review the circumstances so that we can improve responses,’’ Ms McCormack said.
“We have seen a number of family-violence related deaths in the last five years where police interventions according to the code of practice haven’t been undertaken.
“Some police responses are just unbelievably marvellous, we’ve got really committed officers. But it’s obviously not consistent.”
“It’s very risky for a women to contact the system,’’ Ms McCormack said.
“There are generally consequences — she is made to pay. She needs to be really confident that she is going to be protected,” she added.
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