By Margaret Maccoll
Domestic violence breaches have risen almost 50 per cent across Noosa in the past financial year and police-initiated domestic violence orders are on the rise with increased costs of living thought to be a contributing factor toward domestic violence locally.
Having identified DV as an issue in the Noosa Shire with a gap in DV services Mayor Clare Stewart met with Noosa Police and initiated a dialogue which she says is ongoing.
“The meeting discussed the need to try and improve our domestic violence issues,“ she said. “Discussions are at a preliminary stage. Data is currently being collected, options are being explored and we are working through these options.“
Noosa officer in charge, Snr Sgt Ben Carroll said Noosa Police had applied for 94 domestic violence orders this financial year to date with seven weeks still to go.
“Last year police made 103 police applications across the entire financial year so we expect to surpass last financial years number of police applications,” he said. “There have been 32 private applications this financial year to date, with 52 reported last year.”
In the first five months of this year there have been 58 new DV applications in Noosa. That’s 58 new families affected by domestic violence in Noosa.
Snr Sgt Carroll said domestic violence was found across all age groups and all demographics. The majority of victims were female but males can also be the victims.
Only last week a DV application was taken out against a woman in her 70s with a man the victim, he said.
“We consider one of the contributors could be people being under a lot of pressure given fiscal constraints around the increased costs of housing and living within Noosa and the added pressure that brings upon relationships,” Snr Sgt Carroll said.
Unfortunately taking out a DV order does not always stop the aggressor from breaching those orders.
Snr Sgt Carroll said police figures show 151 DV breaches had been recorded so far this financial year with projections suggesting 170 would be received by June 30.
That’s an increase of about 55 reported DV breaches, he said. “It’s a significant increase.”
Despite this increase Noosa Heads Police are rising to the challenge and focussing their efforts heavily on the investigation of domestic violence offences.
Almost 80 per cent of breach DV order offences for the current financial year have already been solved, Snr Sgt Carroll said.
“We investigate each breach and we charge them when we can,” he said.
The diligent work of Noosa Police has resulted in “a higher clear up rate than the current state average” meaning they have solved a greater percentage of breaches than the State as a whole as well as the Sunshine Coast District.
Snr Sgt Carroll said Noosa had a high risk team of officers who were very busy scrutinising DV issues, particularly in families considered high risk.
Police hope the Noosa police region will soon obtain its own domestic and family services with clients now having to travel to Cooroy and Maroochydore for support.
“Whilst there are excellent DV support agencies servicing Noosa based out of Cooroy and Maroochydore there are none directly situated within Noosa,” Snr Sgt Carroll said.
“Police work closely with local service providers in referring victims and perpetrators so they are connected to the right support service. It is hoped going forward that domestic and family violence services will expand to the point we have a service located within Noosa, thus reducing the need for clients to have to travel for meetings.”
The Queensland Police Service, whilst a significant stakeholder in the investigation side of domestic violence matters, are but one of a vast array of government and non-government agencies working collectively to address DFV within our community. Other involved departments include The Justice and Attorney-General’s Department, Corrective Services, Communities and Housing, QLD Health and Education Queensland, who are all key government agencies.
