By Luke Voogt
Violent porn, dating apps and historic offences have contributed to a 45 per cent increase in sexual offences in Geelong, according a local counselling service.
“We’ve seen a correlation between the increase of accessing porn and sexual offences,” said Barwon Centre Against Sexual Assault (CASA) chief Helen Bolton.
Young men often had certain social expectations as a result of violent pornography, Ms Bolton said.
“And sometimes women go, ’this is what’s expected of me as a sexual partner.’”
Movies such as 50 Shades of Grey could also influence sexual attitudes, she added.
Barwon CASA was “well aware” of online predators using dating aps to pray on the vulnerable, Ms Bolton said.
Sexual offences were occurring around Geelong, rather than in specific suburbs, with offenders predominantly targeting females aged of 15 to 44, she said.
But the increase in offences from 494 to 717, between April 2016 and March 2017, was also a positive reflection on reporting, Ms Bolton said.
“We know that there is a significant percentage of this crime that goes unreported.”
Recent campaigns had also helped victims feel empowered, she said.
“The Me Too campaign has certainly brought about a certain understanding of the rights of women and children have to feel safe.”
The media holding sexual offenders accountable for their crimes had also reduced the stigma of reporting them to authorities, she said.
The increase comes after the Indy last December reported a 79 per cent rise in sexual offences from October 2016 to September 2017.
Victims reporting historic offences drove most of the rise, Ms Bolton said at the time.
Recent royal commissions into family violence and child sexual abuse had promoted reporting, she said.
Ms Bolton expected sexual offence numbers to continue to increase as more victims felt empowered to come forward.
She supported calls to have victims of rape, especially minors, to appear in front of an experienced judge rather than a jury.
While all victims of crime suffered reliving their experiences, rape was a uniquely traumatic and violating crime, she explained.
“We want to encourage people to report,” she said.
Barwon CASA had recently received “a significant amount of funds” from Victoria Police to refurbish its building, Ms Bolton said.
This included a room for victims to appear remotely in court via video link, protecting them from contact with the accused.
The Victorian Government’s recent preventative campaigns against sexual violence were vital to preventing offences, Ms Bolton said.
“We need men and women to stand up and say it’s no longer acceptable.”
Sexual offences would continue to rise in Geelong due to increased reporting until these preventative measures took effect, Ms Bolton said.
She urged anyone who had experienced a sexual offense to contact Barwon CASA 5222 4318.
