Police have made 75 arrests during a joint operation targeting the worst recidivist family violence perpetrators over the festive and New Year's period.
Detectives from Victoria Police's Eastern Region and detectives from New South Wales Police teamed up to track down and apprehend the perpetrators across multiple days throughout December and January.
The main days of focus included Christmas Day, which ranks as one of the most prevalent times for family violence, as well as Boxing Day and New Year's.
The operation focussed on repeat family violence perpetrators who are known to offend on multiple occasions across a 12-month period.
Those arrested have allegedly committed multiple violent crimes against current and former partners and their children, including physical assaults, threats, harassment, stalking and technology-facilitated abuse.
Some have multiple outstanding warrants and are flouting family violence safety notices and family violence intervention orders.
Those arrested include:
- An 84-year-old man who allegedly committed a family violence-related aggravated burglary, made threats to kill and absconded from bail in Queensland. The man had been evading police for several weeks before being tracked down and arrested on warrant in Cobram. He has been remanded in custody to face court this month.
- A 37-year-old man who was wanted by police for serious family violence offending, including stalking and intimidating a victim with the intended fear of physical harm, as well as contravening a family violence intervention order. The man was arrested on warrant by police in North Albury and has been remanded in custody to face court this month.
- A 42-year-old man who was wanted by police for serious family violence offending involving non-fatal strangulation, aggravated assault and persistent contravention of a family violence safety notice. The man was arrested in Shepparton and has been bailed to face court this month.
- A 26-year-old man who was wanted by police for an outstanding whereabouts relating to family violence offending perpetrated against his sister. The alleged offending involved threats to inflict serious injury. The man was arrested in Cobram and has been bailed to face court in April.
Police also served 50 family violence intervention orders throughout the operation, which took place across multiple suburbs in Victoria Police's Eastern Region.
Together, both Victoria Police and New South Wales Police door knocked on around 160 properties to enforce actions against perpetrators.
Victoria Police will continue to respond to family violence as a priority and regularly conducts operations of this kind, including joint operations with New South Wales Police, on top of the tireless work of frontline police to arrest family violence offenders and bring them before the courts.
If you, or someone close to you, discloses they are a victim of family violence, please believe them and encourage them to contact police.
Police will make referrals to specialist family violence services and agencies, who provide additional support and assistance, such as accommodation, to ensure the ongoing wellbeing and safety of victims.
Crisis Support is available 24 hours a day through Safe Steps by phoning 1800 015 188 and if someone is in immediate danger always call Triple Zero (000).
If you are concerned about your own or someone else's behaviour - 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.
For more information on what Victoria Police is doing to protect victim-survivors of family violence visit police.vic.gov.au/family-violence.
Quotes attributable to Victoria Police Eastern Region Family Violence Detective Senior Sergeant Damien Peppler:
"This operation shows just how serious we are in ensuring recidivist family violence perpetrators are held responsible for the violent crimes they inflict on their partners and children.
"We've made dozens of arrests as part of this joint operation - sending a clear message to those that choose to engage in this behaviour that they should think again.
"Closed doors will not protect recidivist family violence perpetrators from being caught - they will be tracked down by police and held to account.
Quotes attributable to New South Wales Police Acting Inspector Brett Collins, Murray River Police District:
"This operation sends a clear message to domestic violence perpetrators that you can't hide on either side of the NSW/Victoria border or come and go and expect to remain undetected.
"NSW police will continue to work with our Victorian counterparts to share information and bring domestic violence offenders before the courts.
"Domestic violence has devastating impacts not just on those individuals directly involved but ripples through families, workplaces and the broader community. There is no place for domestic violence in our community and we urge anyone experiencing or witnessing domestic and family violence to come forward."
