Thugs to be served notice as Coalition eyes family violence

POLICE would be able to serve family violence intervention orders directly to thugs if the Coalition wins the November state election under a new plan to be unveiled by Matthew Guy.

POLICE would be able to serve family violence intervention orders directly to thugs if the Coalition wins the November state election.

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy on Sunday will unveil a plan to give officers with a Senior Constable ranking or higher the power to issue the restrictive orders on-the-spot.

At the moment Family Violence Safety Notices must be approved by a Sergeant, and last for 14 days before a court decides whether to apply an interim intervention order.

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The Coalition says the approval process can cause dangerous delays — particularly in regional areas — and the interim order process soaks up too much court and police time.

Under the proposed changes, recently called for by Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton, the Coalition say more police would have the power to hand down Safety Notices with a longer time limit, effectively turning them into interim intervention orders.

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy will unveil a plan to give officers with a Senior Constable ranking or higher the power to issue the restrictive orders on-the-spot. Picture: AAP

Mr Guy told the Sunday Herald Sun: “A government I lead will have a zero tolerance approach to family violence offenders”.

“This is a tough and swift approach to alleged offenders and it will save lives,” he said.

The changes are aimed at freeing up more police and court resources, with the coalition arguing most of the current family violence safety notices are not currently contested.

The issuing of the new orders would not stop parties involved – including the victim or offender — from seeking a Magistrates Court hearing “as soon as possible”.

Mr Ashton recently told the ABC that family violence accounts for 40 per cent of police work, and that if his officers had new powers to issue intervention orders on the spot it would mean “less trauma for victims”.

Victorian Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton. Picture: Aaron Francis

Opposition police spokesman Ed O’Donohue said “when it comes to police dealing with family violence and protecting victims, there is often no time to lose”.

“This change will mean a Senior Constable can issue an order requiring an alleged offender to immediately leave the scene and not return, even in situations where there’s not the evidence to make an instant arrest,” he said.

Any breach of orders can result in the arrest and remand of the offender.

Opposition prevention of family violence spokeswoman Georgie Crozier said: “This is a common sense and practical idea that will make a huge difference.”

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