state's most notorious recidivist family violence perpetrators are relentlessly being pursued by Victoria Police - with 230 arrests made during a recent major blitz.
The offenders - many actively evading authorities - were tracked down and apprehended by police across multiple days throughout September and October in Victoria Police's North-West Metro Region.
Detectives from the Westgate Family Violence Investigation Unit and Broadmeadows Family Violence Investigation Unit teamed up to lead the blitz, with the Family Violence Command Taskforce and the Public Order Response Team.
Those arrested have allegedly committed multiple violent crimes against current and former partners and their children.
They include assaults and threats as well as harassment and technology-facilitated abuse.
The blitz focussed on repeat family violence perpetrators who are known to offend on multiple occasions across a 12-month period and specialist support services were also engaged, helping to disrupt patterns of violence.
Some have blackmailed victims into keeping their whereabouts secret, have multiple outstanding warrants and are flouting family violence safety notices and family violence intervention orders.
- A 42-year-old man who was wanted by police after failing to appear in court for serious family violence offending. The man has been remanded in custody to face court this month.
- A 35-year-old man who allegedly committed a family violence-related aggravated burglary. He was arrested on warrant for failing to appear in court. The man has been remanded in custody to appear in court in December.
- A 42-year-old woman who allegedly assaulted another woman at a shopping centre. The woman has been charged and bailed to face court next month.
- A 18-year-old man who allegedly committed multiple counts of deception and damaged his parents property. The man has been remanded in custody to face court today.
- A 37-year-old man who allegedly persistently contravened a family violence intervention order. The man has been remanded in custody to face court next month.
Police also served 187 family violence intervention orders and executed more than 120 outstanding warrants throughout the blitz.
In just two days of the blitz, police door knocked on more than 80 properties to enforce actions against perpetrators.
Victoria Police regularly conducts operations of this kind on top of the tireless work of frontline police to arrest family violence offenders and bring them before the courts.
It forms part of the force's ongoing commitment to hold perpetrators to account and ensure the safety of victim-survivors.
Statewide, police arrest one family violence perpetrator every 17 minutes.
If you are concerned about your own or someone else's behaviour support services are available. No to Violence runs a Men's Referral Service which helps men who use violence to change their behaviour and can be contacted on 1300 766 491.
If you or someone close to you discloses they are a victim of family violence, please believe them and encourage them to contact police or a support service.
Support is available 24 hours a day through Safe Steps by calling 1800 015 188 or emailing [email protected]
In an emergency call Triple Zero (000). If you can't get to a phone, ask someone else to do it for you.
Quotes attributable to Westgate Family Violence Investigation Unit Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Fiona Waters:
"We've made hundreds of arrests as part of this blitz - showing just how serious we are in ensuring recidivist family violence perpetrators are held responsible for their actions and the harm they wreak on their partners and children.
"Some have gone to great lengths to avoid apprehension displaying coercive control over their victims or using friends and family to stay in hiding - but they are always in the sights of police.
"Family violence is completely unacceptable - which is why we will continue to work tirelessly to target and apprehend offenders and keep victims safe."
Quotes attributable to Broadmeadows Family Violence Investigation Unit Detective Sergeant Chris Couacaud:
"We are sending a strong message to family violence perpetrators - especially those that are known to offend multiple times within a year - that these violent crimes will not be tolerated by police.
"This was a joint blitz, resulting in hundreds of arrests and family violence intervention orders served to ensure the safety of victims.
"Whether it's committing violent assaults against their loved ones, breaching a family violence intervention order or using technology to stalk or harass - those that choose to engage in this behaviour should think again. They will be tracked down by police and held to account."
