Unique offending recognised

Family violence isn’t characterised by a street brawl or a stranger versus stranger offence. It’s a unique type of offending which has deep, underlying power and control issues between offender and victim.

Understanding and acting on this dynamic is a key part of the Police Prosecution Service (PPS) family violence package, according to Superintendent Graham Thomas, National Manager Prosecutions.

“Our policy, training and posters will help ensure prosecutors and frontline staff have a much better understanding of family violence dynamics,” says Graham. “This is a sea change for us.”

He says the underpinning relationships in family violence situations often mean a victim is reluctant to press or maintain charges as they go through an emotional rollercoaster, manipulated by the offender.

A typical scenario can see an offender physically or psychologically assault the victim, then apologise, saying it’ll never happen again. The victim becomes emotionally engaged again during this ‘honeymoon’ phase, feels guilty about the charges and backs off.

“Offenders take advantage of the domestic situation to conduct their offending,” says Graham. “Then the power and control factors come back and the violence returns.”

Graham says there’s much more to family violence than physical offending.

“Gone are the days when family violence was just about ‘male assaults female’.”

“We’re broadening what we mean by violence. It’s not just physical. It includes intimidation, harassment and other means of overpowering and disempowering the victim.”

For example, a threatening partner walking around the house with a firearm or continually kicking a much-loved family pet are ways of getting at the victim.

“There are psychological subtleties in this type of offending, as described in the Domestic Violence Act,” says Graham.

“The PPS family violence package aims to help deepen the understanding Police staff have of these issues and give them tools to use when they’re making charging decisions.

“This new approach will bring about a different way of doing business, so we’re not under-charging or over-charging.”