- 1 - Review of the Code of Practice for the Investigation of Family Violence Dr Kristin Diemer Professor 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

- 2 - Reporting family violence to Police Number of family violence incidents reported to police (15 year trend) Victoria Australia

- 3 - Reporting family violence to Police Number of family violence incidents reported to police (15 year trend) Victoria Australia

- 4 - Reporting family violence to Police Number of family violence incidents reported to police (15 year trend) Victoria Australia

- 5 - Reporting family violence to Police Number of family violence incidents reported to police, Victoria Australia

- 6 - 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

- 7 - 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

- 8 - 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

- 9 - 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

Key guidelines in The Code Risk assessment Risk management options o Referral o Civil o Criminal

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

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

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]

Risk management How useful are referrals?

Risk management How useful are civil protection orders?

Risk management How useful is it to charge the perpetrator?

Data Source: Victoria Police Corporate Statistics (Data extracted from LEAP on 18 July 2014 and subject to variation) Options model implementation (45%)

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

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

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

Support for effective implementation Supervision / on- the-job training Formal & informal Knowledge exchange & education Top level directive leading change and holding senior managers to account

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

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

Review of the Code of Practice for the Investigation of Family Violence Dr Kristin Diemer Professor 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