Family violence incidents are continuing to rise in the Greater Geelong region, according to data released by the Crime Statistics Agency.
The 2022-23 Victorian Family Violence database released on Wednesday, December 6, found the number of family violence offences had risen by 3.2 per cent from the last financial year.
Breach of family violence orders was the highest recorded offence in 2023, with 2940 incidents, followed by common assault (639), criminal damage (409), serious assault (318), and threatening behaviour (135).
Geelong Investigation and Response Manager Detective Inspector Karl Curran said family violence was a priority for Victoria Police and that no one should feel unsafe at home or in a relationship.
“Family violence is a broad issue, and we need to continually work with the community to prevent incidents and educate the next generations to limit the harm,” he said.
“The recent Crime Statistics Agency statistics indicate police are continuing to arrest offenders for breaching family violence orders.
“This can be attributed to the proactive work of Family Violence Investigative Unit detectives, who are regularly knocking on the doors of victims and perpetrators to ensure offenders know they are being monitored, victims feel supported, and breaches are more easily identified.”
Inspector Curran said Family Violence Command’s recent initiative, Operation Enforceable, featured specialist units targeted at family violence perpetrators.
“We conduct regular operations to proactively target and apprehend wanted family violence perpetrators to ensure the safety of victim-survivors,” he said.
“These operations show just how serious we are in holding family violence perpetrators to account and letting them know that they won’t get away with it.
“If you feel you are at risk of being involved in a family violence incident or believe that someone you know is, encourage them to seek help from police or a support service.”
Police recorded that the number of family violence incidents increased by 476 from 4389 in the 2021-22 financial year.
Despite family violence intervention order matters (FVIO) heard in specialist family violence courts being 2.7 times higher than last year, Greater Geelong numbers remained constant over five years.
During the latest financial period, 3239 FVIO Greater Geelong applications to the Magistrates’ and Children’s Court 321 were received, a small drop from 3268 last year.
Most of the region’s family violence incidents, 90.7 per cent, occurred at residential premises, while 454 incidents happened at a nonresidential location.
Crime Statistics Agency chief statistician Fiona Dowsley said the state’s data showed an advance in how the Victorian criminal justice system responded to family violence.
“There has been a significant increase in the number of family violence intervention order cases heard in the specialist family violence jurisdiction over the past 12 months,” she said.
“This shift demonstrates an increase in the capacity of the criminal justice system to apply specialist knowledge to manage often complex family violence matters.
“Evidence suggests that this can result in better outcomes for victim survivors of family violence.”
Help is available through 1800 Respect at 1800 737 732 and Lifeline at 13 11 14. If someone is in immediate danger, call 000.
