Police continue to urge victims to come forward

BASS Coast Family Violence Unit was pleased to see a reduction in family-related incidents as well as an increase in victim reports following the latest crime statistics data. 

The quarterly data, released by the Crime Statistics Agency, for the year to March 31, 2022, had shown family incidents in Bass Coast decreased by 4.4 per cent, after rising sharply during the height of the pandemic. 

However, in South Gippsland family incidents increased by 9.3 per cent for the recent period. 

Family violence units are stationed in Wonthaggi, Morwell and Warragul and include a team of specialist investigators. 

Detective Senior Sergeant Rod Findlay said he was pleased to see more victims reporting family incidents to police, as 1599 reports were made this year compared to 1486 in the previous year. 

“We (police) were conducting Operation Ribbon when a lot of people were at home (during lockdowns),” Dt Snr Sgt Findlay said. 

“We actually inserted ourselves into the community and did a lot of proactive work compared to what we were capable of previously. 

“(Police) were really nervous as the methods of reporting (incidents) had dried up, such as doctors.

“People weren’t going to GPs and kids weren’t going to school.”

Dt Snr Sgt Findlay said he expected to see further increases in victim reports, as more support services such as Orange Door are opening in the region. 
“Family violence has always existed and often behind closed doors,” he said.

“But what we’re trying to do now is to bring it out from those closed doors and do something about it.”

Dt Snr Sgt Findlay highlighted police are often confronted with a range of scenarios when attending family-related incidents, which can be extremely complex. 

“It could stem from a simple argument, and we’ll do reports for that, it isn’t necessarily criminal offending, but we see that as an opportunity to intersect,” he said. 

“We put supports in place to try and assist them.

“But it can also be something extremely violent involving serious injury.” 

If you need help or advice, call 1800Respect on 1800 737732, Safe Steps 1800 015 188, Gippsland Centre Against Sexual Assault on 1800737 732 or Men’s Referral Service on1300 766 491. You can chat online 24/7 at1800respect.org.au