Changes are happening in NSW re domestic violence and will be ongoing. Let’s hope this initiative carries over to all States and Territories.
Almost 650 alleged domestic violence perpetrators were arrested and charged during a four-day statewide blitz targeting high-risk offenders, the first of its kind under a new domestic violence strategy.
Operation Amarok will become “synonymous” with domestic violence offenders, much like the Raptor Squad is known for targeting bikie gangs, Police Asst. Comm. Smith said following last week’s high impact crackdown. He foreshadowed that serious crime prevention orders are next on their agenda to combat domestic violence.
The new DV strategy “came to fruition” from Tuesday to Friday last week, when officers from all police area commands and police districts, assisted by high-risk domestic violence teams and other specialist units, engaged with some 2,000 individuals across NSW. Of those, 648 people were arrested and subsequently charged with a total 1,153 offences – including 294 who police consider to be Amarok targets with an “elevated level of threat”.
Deputy Comm. Lanyon said many of the high-risk cohort “significantly try to avoid police” and the arrests included wanted offenders.
Smith, who is now the head of Operation Amarok, said last week’s arrests are just the start, and put others who avoided arrest on notice. “People that got a doorknock last week need to understand this is not where it ends. We will continue to monitor those individuals”.
Police Comm. Karen Webb said the people targeted were known to police for a variety of reasons and were considered to be “high risk”, whether due to previous convictions, outstanding warrants, AVO breaches; and that police “had grave concerns for victims”. She was “very pleased” with the results of the operation, which was being carried out amid announcements last week for new measures to protect current and potential victims of domestic violence from known offenders.
The
‘Right to Ask’ scheme, set to begin as a 12-month trial, will give police the power to disclose information about domestic violence offenders to potential victims who apply via an online portal.
The government also wants to more than quadruple the number of ankle bracelets available to track domestic violence offenders, from 45 to 200.
Women’s safety is emerging as a key election issue and last week the NSW government committed to spend $100 million on specialised women’s health centres.
Webb said there has been an increase in calls to police regarding domestic violence matters, with about 139,000 calls made last year. Despite the increase in calls for help, she said she worries that domestic violence is still under-reported. There are “incremental steps to making a difference” and it’s not just a policing issue.
Hundreds of alleged DV offenders charged, weapons seized in four-day blitz
Apologies for such a long post but it will probably be behind a paywall shortly.
www.9news.com.au
