A dedicated team targeting repeat domestic and family violence offenders will be established in northern NSW, as part of the NSW Police Force’s commitment to perpetrator accountability.
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Northern Region Commander, Assistant Commissioner Max Mitchell will be joined by local police to announce the Northern Region DV High Risk Offender Team in Coffs Harbour today (Wednesday August 8).
Assistant Commissioner Mitchell said any form of domestic and family violence is a crime, and perpetrators need to be targeted by police and held to account for their actions.
“There has always been a focus on victims of domestic violence, which is entirely appropriate, but a shift to perpetrator accountability means police are able to pro-actively target those offending and often re-offending,” Assistant Commissioner Mitchell said.
“A crime is a crime and domestic violence is one of the oldest and most insidious crimes in our society and these specialist officers will play an important role in saving lives.”
The DV High Risk Offender Team will target serious, high-risk and recidivist offenders across Northern NSW.
“It is important to have specialist police targeting the worst offenders and supporting the most vulnerable victims.
“The Commissioner was behind the drive to proactively target offenders of domestic and family violence and that approach is seeing a reduction in offence rates,” Assistant Commissioner Mitchell said.
NSW Police will continue to work closely with other government and non-government agencies to reduce domestic and family violence as a whole.
Minister for Police Troy Grant said the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government is committed to breaking the cycle of domestic violence right across NSW.
“We have seen the positive impacts of DV High Risk Offender Teams already rolled out across the state and today’s announcement is a major step forward for those affected by the scourge of domestic violence in the Northern Region,” Mr Grant said.
“By having specialised police in towns right across the state’s north, it is a real boost for the community and the safety of those affected.
“This Government is giving police the resources they need to target domestic violence perpetrators right across NSW like never before, while providing support to victims at the same time,” Mr Grant said.