Domestic abusers withold food, medicine during pandemic
Family violence victims are being cut off from help now more than ever and police say victims escaping from domestic abuse will not be fined during lockdown as they reveal the massive number of offenders charged and remanded.
VIC News
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Family violence perpetrators are withholding basic items including food, medicine and hand sanitiser to control victims during the pandemic.
Offenders are also threatening to expose children to COVID-19 and exploiting the crisis to keep victims from leaving home, domestic violence workers warn.
More than 420 family violence perpetrators have been charged with crimes so serious since the initial stages of the pandemic that they were remanded by police.
Victoria Police’s top family violence cop Dean McWhirter said these incidents were “extremely concerning” and that women and child fleeing violence are exempt from lockdown restrictions.
“While we know there are additional pressures during this period, there is no excuse for abusing a loved one,” Assistant Commissioner Dean McWhirter said.
“Police will not issue infringements to family violence victims who leave their homes to escape harm or are at risk of family violence. Instead, we will protect and help them to seek support.”
Domestic Violence Victoria acting policy unit manager Alison Birchall said perpetrators are using the pandemic to prevent victims from leaving home.
In the worst cases offenders are threatening to expose children to COVID-19 to control their partners.
“An extension of that is perpetrators controlling medication and health documents and financial support like Medicare or bank cards so victims don’t have options for escaping,” Ms Birchall said.
A recent Australian Institute of Criminology study found sexual, physical and emotional abuse of women became more severe and frequent at the start of the pandemic.
Family violence services reported fewer calls for help at this time.
Ms Birchall said it was harder for victims to seek help or escape with more perpetrators in the home.
Operation Ribbon was launched by Victoria Police on April 21 to combat the predicted rise in family violence offending during the pandemic.
Since then police have detected 3231 family violence offences including assaults and breaches of intervention orders.
A total of 778 offenders were arrested with well over half charged with high-level crimes and remanded in custody.
Police conducted 11, 617 checks, including 3415 compliance checks on high-risk perpetrators, and spoke to 8202 affected family members across Victoria.
Victoria Police has released videos in 27 languages to encourage people from different linguistic backgrounds to seek help if they are experiencing family violence amid the pandemic.
Ms Birchall said one positive development to emerge from the crisis was an increase in calls by friends, family and neighbours to family violence support services.
For help call the national domestic violence helpline 1800 RESPECT.
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