New family violence unit assesses 2783 cases in first six months

POLICE have assessed and managed almost 3000 incidents in the first six months of the new family violence unit in Melbourne’s southeast.

POLICE have assessed and managed almost 3000 incidents in the first six months of the new family violence unit.

The specialist unit, which works across Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula, has charged 93 offenders, remanded 43 in custody, and is managing 74 ongoing files.

The unit, which includes an embedded worker from Good Shepherd, deals with young offenders and victims, as well as violent interactions between partners and between adult children and their parents.

Senior-Sergeant Andrew Horscroft said the team — known as the Alexis Family Violence Response Model — included a youth resources officer, firearms officer and crime prevention officers.

“We are dealing with high-risk and recidivist offenders, and we look at clear risk factors in family violence, such as pregnant victims, recent separation, unemployment, and threats and assaults of a serious nature such as involving choking,” Sen-Sgt Horscroft said.

The team, based at the Somerville police complex, meets every morning to discuss priority cases. The unit has assessed 2783 family violence incidents since it began operating in April.

While the family violence unit officers support those at risk by applying for intervention orders and ensuring their safety, the firearms officer checks homes for weapons and the youth resources officer links children with support services.

“We don’t want these young people becoming juvenile offenders or suffer the same abuse,” Sen-Sgt Horscroft said

He said the project was already seeing successes.

“Traditionally, police would attend, make it safe or issue warrants and also look at prosecuting,” he said.

“But doing things this way means we can assist everybody, from anger management referrals to drug and alcohol or mental health services, and by supporting the victims, who are still mainly women and children, but also elderly parents.”

Originally published as New family violence unit assesses 2783 cases in first six months