A dedicated team targeting repeat domestic and family violence offenders will be established in southern NSW, as part of the NSW Police Force’s commitment to perpetrator accountability.
The Domestic Violence High Risk Offender Teams, established by Commissioner Mick Fuller, are part of the strategy to target recidivist offenders and reduce the rate of reoffending.
Deputy Commissioner Regional Field Operations Gary Worboys and Police Minister Troy Grant will be joined by local police to announce the Southern Region DV High Risk Offender Team in Wagga Wagga today.
Deputy Commissioner Worboys said a crime is a crime and domestic violence is one of the oldest and most insidious crimes in our society.
"Perpetrators of domestic violence need to be held to account for their actions and the introduction of specialist police ensures offenders are pro-actively targeted and vulnerable victims are supported," Deputy Commissioner Worboys said.
"There has always been a focus on victims of domestic violence, which is entirely appropriate, but we can now shift focus to offenders and re-offenders.
"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," Deputy Commissioner Worboys said.
The DV High Risk Offender Team will target serious, high-risk and recidivist offenders across southern NSW.
"We have already seen the positive impacts of DV High Risk Offender Teams in the initial rollout locations, and today signals a real boost for community safety in towns right across the state’s south."
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.
"Today’s announcement is a major step forward for those affected by the scourge of domestic violence in the Southern Region," Mr Grant said.
"These offenders are high-risk, and the Government is giving the NSW Police Force the resources they need to keep communities safe from this insidious crime. Domestic violence offenders are well and truly on notice that their behaviour will not be tolerated," Mr Grant said.
The Domestic Violence High Risk Offender Team will be operational by the end of the year.
