Today Gold Coast police are renewing their White Ribbon oath to stand up, speak out and act to prevent men’s violence against women and children, Queensland Police say.
White Ribbon is the world’s largest movement of men and boys working to end men’s violence against women and girls, promote gender equality and healthy relationships.
This year Gold Coast police are participating in several White Ribbon events across the Coast and are also hosting a registered White Ribbon Event on Saturday December 3 between 1pm – 3pm at the Parkwood International Golf Course, Napper Road, Parkwood.
In January of 2016 the Gold Coast Domestic and Family Violence Taskforce (DFV Taskforce) was created to address violence against our community’s most vulnerable. The establishment of the taskforce, in combination with close partnerships with other government agencies, community groups and new laws, has seen victims encouraged to report violence and police able to charge increased number of offenders.
Detective Inspector of the DFV Taskforce Marc Hogan said the key to the progress of the DFV Taskforce was creating a holistic network between the victims, police, the justice system and community groups.
"Police are committed to pursuing the criminal offences that come hand in hand with domestic violence. If for example a man physically assaults a woman that is a criminal offence and police will investigate the matter and if evidence is sufficient charge accordingly."
"Fifty percent of the Gold Coast’s assault charges and 68% of life endangering acts- which largely relate to the new offences relating to strangulation- are directly related to domestic and family violence incidents. This number is too high but it does reflect the work police are doing to identify and prosecute domestic violence offenders."
"We work tirelessly to build community confidence in what the DFV Taskforce does, we want victims to know that they will be supported, they will be heard and offenders will be held accountable for their actions." Detective Inspector Marc Hogan said.
The Gold Coast also hosts Queensland’s very first Domestic and Family Violence Court in Southport.
Inspector Owen Hortz of Southport division said that police work closely with the courts to ensure that victims receive the support they need.
"The establishment of the court has been a tremendous benefit to police. The release of the Not Now Not Ever report and the new domestic and family violence laws have allowed police to enforce incidents of domestic violence like no time before." Inspector Hortz said.
Sadly one in three Australian women has experienced physical violence since the age of 15, a number that is both appalling and unacceptable. These statistics are a stark reminder of how much work still needs to be done.
But the work can’t be done by police alone.
All men have the capacity to make a difference and help prevent violence against women and children.
We need to work together as a community to challenge behaviours and attitudes that condone violence or sexism.
It is never ok to use violence and it won’t be accepted.
If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence you can either contact police via 000 if someone in in immediate life threatening danger or Policelink.
There are also a range of domestic violence support agencies such as DV Connect http://www.dvconnect.org/ 1800 811 811
and the Domestic Prevention Centre Gold Coast http://www.domesticviolence.com.au/ 07 5532 9000.
Anyone with information which could assist with this matter should contact Crime Stoppers anonymously.
