Australia and NZ Police Commissioners speak out on family violence

Today, NZ Police Commissioner Mike Bush and Police Commissioners from across Australia launched a joint Leadership Statement and Policing Principles for Protecting Women and Children from Family Violence.

The Police Commissioners have called on the community to challenge behaviour that turns a blind eye to family violence and attitudes which reflect an endemic disrespect of women.

“Police are committed to doing everything in their power to prevent family violence, protect victims and hold perpetrators to account,” says Commissioner Mike Bush.

“But Police cannot prevent family violence on their own.

Police Commissioners are calling on the community to act.

“In New Zealand, on average Police respond to a family violence incident every 5 minutes.

The statistics are appalling and a stark reminder of how much work we need to do.

But we can’t do it alone.

“We need to work together as a community to challenge behaviours and attitudes that condone violence or sexism.

We are asking the community to stand up and speak out.

“People often make excuses for violence and police hear these every day.

It is never a victim’s fault.

It is never ok to use violence and we won’t accept it.

“Living free from violence is everyone’s right and reducing violence is everyone’s responsibility.”

Getting help
• In an emergency dial 111 and ask for the Police.
• If you or anyone you know is a victim of violence, talk to police or someone who can help.
• If you are concerned about your safety, you (or family or friends) can request information relating to the violence history of a new partner through the Family Violence Information Disclosure Scheme
• See more information about getting help here
Facts and statistics
• The statistics are deeply concerning, e.g.

in 2015, New Zealand Police conducted 109,328 family violence investigations; and 76,041 notifications from Police about child maltreatment were made to Child, Youth and Family.
• In 2014/15, 57 percent of all sexual and violent offenders imprisoned that year had a family violence offence as the most serious offence.
• International evidence estimates that women subjected to ongoing family abuse are 2.6 times more likely to use mental health services; and a recent Australian study suggests that at least 30 percent of people seeking assistance for homelessness services are fleeing family violence.
• On average Police respond to a family violence incident every 5 minutes and each day Police visit 279 homes in response to family violence.
• Half of all homicides are family violence related.
• 49% of Māori women experience partner abuse (compared with 24% non- Māori).

One out of two children killed by caregivers are Māori.
• About half of all violent offence charges in our courts relate to family violence and half of all homicide victims are killed by a family member or someone they had been in a relationship with.
• Vulnerable children and young people are frequent victims of family violence and too many are witnessing family violence every day.

In over 60% of family violence related police investigations, children are family members witnessing family violence.
• In almost 70 per cent of cases CYF are involved with, Police have responded to episodes of violence in the family sometime in the previous five years) (Expert Advisory Panel, Interim Report, 2015).

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