Nick Sinis
Police throughout Cardinia and surrounds are cracking down on family violence perpetrators as a state-wide push is leading to a record number of offenders being arrested.
Frontline police and specialised teams, including Family Violence Investigation Units and the Family Violence Command Taskforce, are proactively targeting and apprehending offenders for family violence crimes to ensure the safety of victim-survivors.
Locally, police are undertaking two operations to target offenders.
“Operation Served is an ongoing operation where we make sure any intervention order we receive from the courts are served on perpetrators in a timely manner, to protect the affected family members as soon as possible,” Inspector Rodney Maroney said.
“Operation Enforceable was conducted across Victoria last year, and we will be running it locally across Greater Dandenong, Casey and Cardinia in the coming months.
“We will be targeting family violence perpetrators and any outstanding actions they have including intervention orders, warrants and whereabouts for any type of offences, not just family violence-related offending. This is to hold perpetrators to account and protect those at risk.”
As the state and nation continue to feel the devastation of the horrific attacks on women this year, police are also ramping up their work with partner organisations.
Locally this includes the Orange Door, Southern Melbourne Integrated Family Violence Partnership, Cardinia Council and other family violence support services such as VACCA and Wayss.
“We also hold regular Risk Assessment Management Panels with Wayss, family violence services, Corrections, DFFH, mental health services so we can put immediate protections in place to prevent death or serious injury to affected family members and their children,” Insp Maroney said.
With dedicated family violence investigation units stationed throughout Cardinia, Casey and Dandenong,as well as a divisional family violence coordinator, members take a holistic approach to support victims.
“Each station has Family Violence Liaison Officers and we have dedicated Family Violence Court Liaison Officers to assist with the intervention order processes. We all work together and meet regularly to ensure victims are protected and offenders are held to account,” Insp Maroney said.
“A really important aspect for us is that anyone who has been affected by family violence has the confidence to report it to police. This will allow us to intervene with the support of the family violence services throughout the community in trying to prevent further offending from occurring.”
The most recent Crime Statistics Agency figures showed that family incidents had increased by 5.7 per cent from 1495 to 1580, for the year ending December 2023 in Cardinia.
The previous year (December 2022) had seen a decrease of 8.6 per cent in family incidents.
The family incident rate per 100,000 population was 1242 compared with the Victorian rate of 1384 per 100,000.
The highest age group affected by family violence was between 35-44.
If you are concerned about your own or someone else’s behaviour support services are available. No to Violence runs a Men’s Referral Service which helps men who use violence to change their behaviour and can be contacted on 1300 766 491.
If you or someone close to you discloses they are a victim of family violence, please believe them and encourage them to contact police or a support service.
Support is available 24 hours a day through Safe Steps by calling 1800 015 188 or emailing safesteps@safesteps.org.au
In an emergency call Triple Zero (000). If you can’t get to a phone, ask someone else to do it for you.
