Is the NSW Government serious about keeping women and children safe?

Today in Parliament, Abigail once again raised concerns about the number of actively serving police officers with domestic and family violence offences working within the community.

Abigail said:

Yesterday it was reported that yet another police officer has been charged over the alleged domestic violence related assault of a woman in the State's south. The officer's employment status is currently under review. The latest figures given to us by the police commissioner in the last budget estimates hearing reveal that there are 54 currently serving police officers in New South Wales who have been charged with domestic and family violence [DFV] offences. The commissioner confirmed that there are at least 10 police officers who have been found guilty in court of a DFV offence but who are still serving. We could have a separate discussion about whether or not the police should be such a large part of the response to domestic and family violence. The current fact is that they are involved as the first responders in the large majority of incidents, whether they are attending an incident or a victim makes contact with them to report an incident. If we are to create a culture of trust in the police to deal with these matters, how can we have anything but a zero tolerance response to DFV incidents perpetrated by police officers themselves?

To make matters worse, the NSW Police Force still refuses to ensure that claims of DFV against a police officer are not investigated by that police officer's command. The New South Wales Auditor-General called this out, rightly identifying it as inappropriate, and recommended the policy be amended. The Law Enforcement Conduct Commission identified the same issue and similarly recommended the policy be repealed. Yet, despite those clear recommendations from independent agencies, the Government and the NSW Police Force stubbornly refuse to make that simple change, preferring to leave that consequential decision up to individual police discretion. That response underlies just how little those calling the shots in the NSW Police Force understand the experiences of victim-survivors of domestic violence. Victim-survivors need confidence that when they report their experiences, their matter will not be investigated by the alleged perpetrator's colleagues. If there is a chance that it will not be transferred and their safety could be put at further risk, they will simply not report the issue to the police in the first place. Instead, they could be forced to stay in a dangerous situation longer.

I raise this issue again and again with the Minister and the police commissioner. Last week I once again received a response from the police Minister refusing to budge on the issue. If the Minns Labor Government was serious about tackling the domestic and family violence crisis in our State and removing all obstacles women and children face when they are fleeing domestic violence situations, it would have zero tolerance of officers in its ranks charged with DFV incidents. It would ensure that a police officer does not get investigated by their mates when they are the one alleged to be a DFV perpetrator. But, as we have seen in its absolute failure to properly fund frontline domestic and family violence services and its continued arrogance in failing to listen to the evidence-based requests of the sector, this Government is not at all serious about doing what is necessary to keep women and children safe in our State.

 

Read the transcript in Hansard here.

 

18 September 2024

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