NSW Police is committed to tackling domestic and family violence across the state’s Southern Region. Photo: File.
NSW Police says it has uncovered 526 breaches of apprehended violence orders in two months across the NSW Southern Region, after conducting compliance checks during Operation Making Families Safer 2020.
The operation began on Wednesday, 1 April 2020, as part of NSW Police’s continuing commitment to tackling domestic and family violence in the Southern Region, an area encompassing the NSW South Coast, Lake Illawarra, Monaro, Murray River, Murrumbidgee River, the Riverina, the Hume and Wollongong.
Police will continue to target high-risk domestic-violence offenders to reduce and prevent domestic and family violence.
Officers from eight police districts – assisted by specialist police from the Domestic Violence High Risk Offender Team, the Proactive Crime Team, and the Region Enforcement Squad – are involved in the operation, providing strong support for victims and holding offenders accountable for their actions.
Of 2900 compliance checks made in April, and 2800 in May, police found 274 breaches of apprehended violence orders during April, and 252 breaches during May.
The Acting Southern Region Commander, Acting Assistant Commissioner Greg Moore APM, said police will continue to exercise a zero-tolerance approach to domestic and family violence.
“Our officers have and will continue to actively knock on the doors of those known to police to keep perpetrators accountable for their actions,” said Mr Moore. “And to show support for victims who often find themselves in vulnerable situations.
“We have been keeping a close eye on crime throughout this [COVID-19] pandemic, and that includes crimes committed within the home. Domestic violence is a criminal offence and we’re not just talking about physical assaults – it includes verbal, psychological, mental and emotional abuse.
“As well as targeting those with a history of offending, we will continue to act on information received from the community to ensure domestic violence perpetrators are dealt with swiftly and appropriately.”
NSW Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott said the protection of victims is paramount.
“Our dedicated NSW Police officers are on the front foot targeting high-risk domestic violence offenders to ensure they are held accountable and victims are kept safe,” he said.
“Police are not only on the beat ensuring the community’s safety during the COVID-19 pandemic, they’re also conducting thousands of Apprehended Domestic Violence Order compliance checks across the state.
“I’m pleased to see the exemplary work of local police working in close coordination with other government agencies and the community in the best interests of victims and their families.”
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic or family violence, multiple services are available to provide immediate support:
- 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) is a confidential information, counselling and support service.
- NSW Domestic Violence Line (1800 65 64 63) is a statewide telephone crisis counselling and referral service for women.
- Men’s Referral Service (1300 766 491) provides telephone counselling, information and referrals for men.
- Link2Home (1800 152 152) can help refer women experiencing domestic violence to crisis accommodation.
- Lifeline (13 11 14) is a national charity providing Australians experiencing a personal crisis with access to 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention services.
If you are in immediate danger or in an emergency, always call triple zero (000).
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