1.2 Family Violence, PSO & Protection Orders Policy & Procedures Flashcards
What are the 6 principles that guide Police response to family violence
1) Early intervention
2) Culturally appropriate
3) Safety - ensure everyone (especially victims and children) are safe before leaving the premises.
4) Collection of Risk Information -
collecting risk info to enable decision makers to assess, plan and manage risk to victims and guide decisions around offender management
5) Accountability -
holding offenders to account for their actions by activating a prompt and comprehensive response. Directing offenders to programmes that will stop the violence should be encouraged.
6) Working Collaboratively -
coordinate responses to family violence through family violence coordinators across police work groups (ASAT, CPT, Youth Aid etc)
What are the characteristics of Family Violence? (IE Percentages)
The majority of family violence is intimate partner violence. The perpetrator is mostly male and the victim female.
Children are typically present at 50% of all family violence occurrences.
Police must collect risk infomation when family violence involves a Intimate Partner or when children are present
Corroboration is required if the victim becomes a reluctant witness. This may include
- medical examinations
- photographs of injuries
- scene examinations
- clothing
- witness statements
When should you arrest in a family violence offence?
If there is sufficient evidence for a family violence offence or breach of protection order offence, the offender should (except in exceptional circumstances) be arrested.
What do you do if there is insufficient evidence to arrest?
Consider issuing a Police Safety Order (PSO).
Ensure the victim is safe before leaving.
Do not give warnings.
Breach of Protection Order and an assault has occurred. What must you do?
Charge the offender with the assault and for the breach.
Do not release the offender on bail for 24hrs provided there is no court hearing before the period has elapsed.
Police Bail considerations for family violence offences
The primary consideration is the safety of the victim, linking the victim to appropriate support and services and the possible need for the defendant to have a cooling off period.
Who can authorise Police Bail for Family Violence Offences?
You must have the authority of a supervisor of or above the level of sergeant before releasing the defendant on bail.
Presumption of Court Bail
In most cases, there is a presumption that a defendant IS to be bailed.
Procedure for offering support services
If the victim says no when you ask if they want support, simply advise that you will be calling the agency you work closely with and that the agency will arrange for a worker to provide information and give them early assistance.
Police Safety Orders - What are they?
PSOs are immediate orders issued by a qualified constable when attending family violence occurrences where an investigation fails to establish full evidence of an offence.
Who is a qualified constable? (PSO)
Of or above the position level of sergeant. Must be a substantive sergeant or formally appointed or authorised under section 63 of the policing act.
An acting sergeant can not issue PSOs.
When can a PSO be issued?
When the parties are in a domestic relationship and the constable does not arrest the bound person but has reasonable grounds to believe an order is necessary to ensure the safety of the person at risk.
When can a PSO not be issued?
When a person has been charged for a family violence offence.
When a person is under 16 years of age.
How long can a PSO last?
A PSO can not exceed 10 days.
What are the police powers pending the authorisation and issue of a PSO?
Police can detain the person for up to 2 hours. The 2 hour period commences when a decision to issue a PSO is made.
Police can remove the person from the premise and take them to a police station or place used as a police station (patrol car) during the period of detention.
Refusing to remain at the place where they are detained re PSO
A person commits an offence and can be arrested without warrant if he/she fails to remain at the place where they are detained.
$500 fine
Unable to serve a PSO during the 2 hour period
You must release the detained person. You then have 48hrs to issue and serve the order on the person.
The 48hrs starts when the qualified constable authorises the issuing of a PSO.