- 1 - review of the code of practice for the investigation of family violence dr kristin diemer...
TRANSCRIPT
- 1 -
Review of the Code of Practice for the Investigation of Family
Violence
Dr Kristin Diemer [email protected] Cathy Humphreys, Dr Lucy Healey, Dr Stuart Ross
Research Program:Safety and Accountability in Families Evidence and Research (SAFER)Researching An Integrated Response to Family Violence in Victoria
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Reporting family violence to Police
Number of family violence incidents reported to police (15 year trend) Victoria Australia
1999/00 2000/01 2001/02 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/140
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
70,000
19,59721,618
23,457
28,452 27,67229,162 28,301
29,64831,666
33,89135,681
40,778
49,945
60,550
65,393
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Reporting family violence to Police
1999/00 2000/01 2001/02 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/140
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
70,000
19,59721,618
23,457
28,452 27,67229,162 28,301
29,64831,666
33,89135,681
40,778
49,945
60,550
65,393
Chief Commissioner of Police, Christine Nixon, announces a review of
all matters relating to policing violence against women
Number of family violence incidents reported to police (15 year trend) Victoria Australia
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Reporting family violence to Police
1999/00 2000/01 2001/02 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/140
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
70,000
19,59721,618
23,457
28,452 27,67229,162 28,301
29,64831,666
33,89135,681
40,778
49,945
60,550
65,393
Implementation of The Code of Practice for the Investigation of Family Violence
(public document & open to ongoing review)
Renamed Investigation of violence against women and children.
Number of family violence incidents reported to police (15 year trend) Victoria Australia
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Reporting family violence to Police
1999/00 2000/01 2001/02 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/140
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
70,000
19,59721,618
23,457
28,452 27,67229,162 28,301
29,64831,666
33,89135,681
40,778
49,945
60,550
65,393
Implementation of The Family Violence Protection Act (2008) +
Introduction of the police issued Family Violence Safety Notices (FVSN) +
Information campaign directing calls to state helpline & referral pathway
Number of family violence incidents reported to police, Victoria Australia
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The Code & implementation
provides directives for police to
o undertake a risk assessment
o take protective action
o identify the predominant aggressor
o undertake appropriate investigation
o pursue appropriate risk management options
Alongside the Code
• A ‘Family Violence Advisor’ in each region
• Mandated training on FV policing to all members
• Trial of specialist FV units in some regions
• Central office FV team to offer advice on interpretation of the Code & undertake on-going review of the formal documentation
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To review the implementation of the Code, and in particular the Options Model, to understand
the way in which sergeants and senior sergeants manage their station staff to utilise the Code,
and ultimately reduce violence against women and children.
Research Aim
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• How is the Code perceived and enacted by police members?
• How is the implementation of the Code supervised within stations?
• How is the Code included in education and training opportunities for police members?
Key research questions
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• Two comparable regions o Interviews with 115 police members (Constables -
Senior Sergeants)• Data analysis: Policing activity• Police Academy educator focus group• Observational attendance
o Family Violence Advisor meetings o New recruit training on family violence at the Police
Academy
The Research Process
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Key guidelines in The Code
• Risk assessment
• Risk management options
o Referral
o Civil
o Criminal
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Implementation findings - positive
Risk assessment - implementation
• Police are aware that risk assessment is compulsory
• Experience in a specialist FV team has a positive effect on understanding and application of risk assessment
• Supervisors regularly monitor compliance
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Implementation findings – room for improvement
Risk assessment - implementation
• Quality of information recorded on the risk assessment is proportionally related to supervision practices
• Front-line members evaluate risk at the incident, but often complete the paperwork away from the scene
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Risk management options
o Referral: formal and informal
o Civil: protection order
o Criminal: charging the perpetrator
[The options model offers] a good suite of powers and we use all of it. [id 76, Leading Senior
Constable]
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Risk management
How useful are referrals?
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Risk management
How useful are civil protection orders?
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Risk management
How useful is it to charge the perpetrator?
- 17 -Data Source: Victoria Police Corporate Statistics (Data extracted from LEAP on 18 July 2014 and subject to variation)
Options model implementation
(45%)
- 18 -Data Source: Victoria Police Corporate Statistics (Data extracted from LEAP on 18 July 2014 and subject to variation)
Regional Trend - Charging rates
Charging rates per 100,000 population
- 19 -Data Source: Victoria Police Corporate Statistics (Data extracted from LEAP on 18 July 2014 and subject to variation)
Regional Trend - Charging rates
Region A: Charging rates per 100,000 population
- 20 -Data Source: Victoria Police Corporate Statistics (Data extracted from LEAP on 18 July 2014 and subject to variation)
Regional Trend - Charging rates
Region B: Charging rates per 100,000 population
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Support for effective implementation
Supervision / on-the-job training
Formal & informalKnowledge exchange &
education
Top level directiveleading change and
holding senior managers to account
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Concluding Comments
Outcomes of the new Code
• Increased response coupled with increased demand for response
• Deeper understanding of family violence
• Increased & more effective response to all parties at an incident
• Stronger relationships with external agencies
• Structure to guide consistent response to FV incidents
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Concluding Comments
Member commitment to good practice • Commitment to increasing knowledge and
engagement
• Strongly held desire and keenly searching to make a positive difference
• On the job training between members
Introduction of the Code, alongside positive support for policing FV within and across Victoria Police has led to both vertical and horizontal organisational
change, including understanding of family violence
Multi-pronged implementation of Organisational change
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Review of the Code of Practice for the Investigation of Family
Violence
Dr Kristin Diemer [email protected] Cathy Humphreys, Dr Lucy Healey, Dr Stuart Ross
Research Program:Safety and Accountability in Families Evidence and Research (SAFER)Researching An Integrated Response to Family Violence in Victoria