FRoM CoMMissioneR ATKinson - Queensland Police Service ...

Breaking the
cycle of violence
The Domestic and Family
Violence (D&FV) Unit, within
the Policing Advancement
Branch, is facing a particularly
busy time at the moment.
The Queensland Government
strategy, For our Sons and
Daughters: a Queensland
Government strategy to
reduce domestic and family
violence 2009-2014, contains
a detailed yearly plan of
action for all Government
agencies. There are a number
of tasks the Queensland
Police Service (QPS) is directly
responsible for.
The D&FV Unit is nonoperational.
Unlike general
duties officers, members
do not patrol the streets
in marked police cars or
respond to calls for service
as part of their daily duties.
Instead the unit’s mandate is
to develop, implement and
coordinate a Service-wide,
quality policing response to
domestic and family violence.
The D&FV Unit strives to
achieve these goals by
working collaboratively
with government and
non-government agencies.
The unit actively supports
a statewide network of
Domestic Violence Liaison
Officers (DVLO), and
members of the Service
generally, in relation to the
policing of domestic and
family violence.
Acting Inspector Leonie
Fordyce of the D&FV Unit
said one of the actions for
the QPS in the whole-ofgovernment
strategy was to
consult in the review of the
Domestic and Family Violence
Protection Act 1989.
“The legislation hasn’t been
comprehensively reviewed
since it was introduced in
1989; that’s more than 20
years,” Acting Inspector
Fordyce said.
“It’s very significant that
the Service is part of the
consultation process, as this
legislation is owned by the
Department of Communities,
rather than the police.
“Having key members of the
Queensland Police Service
involved acknowledges the
critical part police officers
play in managing domestic
violence, and the Service has
committed a full-time senior
sergeant to the review team.”
A second significant initiative
keeping the D&FV Unit busy,
along with officers from
Central Region, is the trial of
a new service delivery model
taking place in Rockhampton.
While not a new concept,
Acting Inspector Fordyce
said the Breaking the Cycle
of Domestic and Family
Violence trial represented
a formalisation of a fully
coordinated approach to
supporting individuals and
families affected by domestic
violence in Queensland.
“The initiative aims to
improve the safety and wellbeing
of those affected by
domestic and family violence
by linking community
support, legal and court
services. A case coordination
team has been established,
which includes a senior
sergeant of police, a child
safety officer and a specialist
domestic and family violence
worker.
“Some families and
individuals require more
intensive ongoing support
because of multiple and often
long standing problems,
which extend beyond
domestic and family violence.
These issues could include a
history of abuse, substance
misuse, mental health issues,
unemployment or financial
stress.
“The team will undertake
to assess risk and identify
safety support needs of
the individuals and families
referred to them and
ensure coordinated service
responses, working closely
with case management and
support services.”
The consultation paper for
the legislative review was
launched in March for a
three month period, and
the Breaking the Cycle trial
will run for 20 months with
a full evaluation report on
the trial’s results due back to
government by 2011.
Acting Inspector Fordyce said
her enthusiasm for the new
strategy mirrored the feelings
of her colleagues in the
Domestic and Family Violence
Unit and the wider police
service.
“This strategy in its entirety
is geared towards working in
partnership to achieve quality
outcomes for those affected
by domestic and family
violence,” she said.
The Policing Advancement Branch is a diverse collection
of services that support the operations of frontline police.
The units that fall under the branch include Education
and Training; Drug and Alcohol Coordination; Domestic
and Family Violence; Operational Research and Advisory
Unit; Service Operational Procedures; the Mental Health
Intervention Project; and the Queensland Police-Citizens
Youth Welfare Association.
38
PoliceBulletin347