The Queensland Police Union’s (QPU) campaign to make domestic and family violence a standalone offence will be considered by the state government, which is looking to change legislation to reverse the increasing rates of offending.
Under current law, a police officer’s power is limited if they suspect domestic violence but the victim does not make a complaint.
“More often than not, domestic and family violence is dealt with in the civil scene,” QPU President Shane Prior said.
Prior said authorities “need to do something different and we need to do it now”.
QPU is petitioning for the change so officers can charge an offender immediately with a criminal offence, arguing that it will protect victims too intimidated to make a complaint while also making the process quicker and more efficient for police.
“We need to do better for our victims and we need to take it out of their hands that they no longer have to make a complaint and that police will just take action and lock these perpetrators up,” Prior said.
The Queensland government said it is keeping an open mind to the union’s proposal and that it will also look at ideas from police and domestic violence support groups.
“All options are on the table,” Police Minister Dan Purdie said.
“We’ve had a presentation from the union about their option.”
Purdie agreed that laws need to change to help victims and those on the frontline.
“We know on average it takes police about four to six hours to do the associated paperwork in relation to a domestic violence call out,” he said.
Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).
