4 Family Harm Flashcards
What are some of the offences that fall under s29VRS?
Sexual
Serious Assault
Victim has ongoing fears for thier safety or security
or they fear for the physical safety of one or more members of their immediate family.
What are the SIX principals that guide Police practice on Family Harm?
Early Intervention Culturally Appropriate Safety (theirs and ours) Collecting Risk Info Accountability Working Collaboratively
What percentage of FH episodes are children usually present at?
50%
If a person has been arrested for BOPO, when can they be bailed / go to Court?
Should go to Court at next available time, but if not Court MUST not be granted Police bail within 24hrs immediately following arrest.
If no Court after 24hrs can be Police bailed
When deciding whether to bail a FH offender what MUST you do?
The need to protect the victim and their family members is the PARAMOUNT decision when determining whether to grant bail
Who can authorise bail for a FH offender
Sgt or above
What should bail conditions be?
specific
relevant to defendants risks
reflect the victims and their families safety (in FH cases)
**Only in exceptional circumstances can a offender be bailed to a victims address **
Can you serve a PSO on a person who is on EM Bail?
Yes but they will then be unable to comply with their EM bail conditions and will have to be arrested
What should you do if you are responding to a FH episode concerning a Police employee?
Two simultaneous actions should occur
normal police response
referral to welfare through supervisor
What should Police do when they are aware of FH occurring in a Police family
Carefully consider impact of any criminal offending on the ability of employee to remain a police officer
compatibility to continue in a policing role
When do Police policy involving an employee and FH apply?
When it comes to a supervisors attention
Police attend a FH episode PSO issued or concern around FH escalating or continueing
Offending is disclosed where employee is a victim or offender
Temp or final PO has been issued regardless if employee is protected person or respondant
Can employees self refer for FH related stuff?
Yes
Ring EAP 0800
Discuss concerns with supervisor
Discuss concerns with welfare
police should support and educate employees to assist them to deal with issues or prevent / reduce FH escalating
If an employee raises their FH concerns with a supervisor is this a confidential conversation?
Yes UNLESS the conduct disclosed is of such a nature it should be investigated and or prosecuted
If a partner of a police employee makes a FH complaint who should deal with this?
FH coordinator / specialist
If Police attend a FH episode and an employee is either the person posing the risk or person at risk what should they do?
MUST report this to their supervisor who will contact Welfare to arrange contact ASAP and oversight
If a Police employee is arrested or charged with a FH related offence what MUST happen?
MUST be reported by shift supervisor to District Employee Practice Manager and PPC who will advise District Commander or National Manager.
Code of conduct will apply
What must you do for a VICTIM if a police employee is arrested or charged with FH related offending?
MUST offer the victim welfare contact and counselling through EAP
If appropriate this should also be offered to the offender/employee
What MUST a Police employee who become a respondent in a PO do?
MUST IMMEDIATELY report the fact in WRITING inc details of the proceedings to their SUPERVISOR.
If they FAIL to advise their supervisor this may be viewed as a aggravating factor when considering the nature of the conduct.
If an Police employee is a respondent in a PO are they allowed to carry their appointments?
No - a standard paragraph inc in POs is that not allowed to be in possession of any firearm or WEAPON.
Therefore cant carry OC, baton, or taser without breaching the PO.
These include in training
If a Police employee is served with a PO, can Police assisst in applying to alter the standard condition relating to weapons?
Yes but this would be a rare case.
Police must be satisfied that such a variation is appropriate
Must consider the nature, duration and type of FH disclosed, employees role and views of the protected person
What are the four types of DOMESTIC RELATIONSHIPS?
Are or have been intimate partners
Family Members
Flatmates (ordinarily share a house)
Close Personal Relationship
- nature and intensity of relationship
- amt of time spent together
- how and where that time is spent
Who can you issue a PSO to?
Anyone in a DOMESTIC RELATIONSHIP
Are or have been intimate partners
Family Members
Flatmates (ordinarily share a house)
Close Personal Relationship
- nature and intensity of relationship
- amt of time spent together
- how and where that time is spent
Who do you need to do a FH report for?
ONLY ppl who are of have been in an intimate relationship or are family members
Can you PSO a flat mate?
Yes comes under the definition of a domestic relationship but dont have to do a FH report
Do you have to do a FH report for an argument between flat mates?
NO - unless they have been in an intimate relationship or are family members
What are the immediate effects of a PSO?
Bound person MUST
-surrender any weapons AND FAL
- Vacate any land or building regardless if they have an interest in it
- A PSO provides a cooling down period and space to seek support and assistance for both the protected person and the bound person
What is a ‘weapon’ in relation to surrendering it for a PSO or PO?
FAP RAE
Fire arm Ammunition Pistol Restricted weapon (Flick knife, OC spray...) Air pistol Explosives
A bound person who has been served with PSO and is looking after someone elses firearms - can you seize those?
Yes - it applies to firearms under their control as well as owned by them
As well as the immediate effects of a PSO (surrender weapons, vacate land) what are the longer effects of a PSO on a bound person?
Cannot engage in behaviour that amounts to FH
Make UNAUTHORISED contact with person at risk
Encourage any person to make contact with PAR
What is authorised contact in a PSO?
Necessary in an emergency
Permitted under a special condition of a PO
Necessary to attend a FGC
Necessary before a Court
What happens if there is a parenting order in effect and a PSO is served?
The parenting order is suspended
Inform the FH Coordinator / specialist as the bound person may have had a parenting order made against the person at risk whom you intend to protect and a violence finding may have been made against them bu the Court
Who can authorise a PSO?
Qualified Constable
- Substantive Sgt or above
- someone who has been auth by s63
If you attend a FH episode and arrest an offender but later find that there is insufficent evidence and you un arrest them…can you issue a PSO?
Yes - if you think it is necessary to help make te PAR safe from FV
PSO provides time to seek support or assistance for both the PAR and bound person.
Can you issue a PSO to a YP aged 16 or 17?
Yes BUT it MUST be
- justified in SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES
- RGTB necessary to make the family or member or person they have a close family relationship safe
- Should be a last resort
- Consider arrest s214
- No identifiable offence
Authorised by a Snr Sgt
You go to a FH episode and a PO is in place but no breaches have been detected, can you issue a PSO?
Yes - also allows for parenting orders to be suspended
This also aligns with the Polices graduated response model
What should you consider when deciding to issue a PSO?
Total concern for safety Has inflicted or is inflicting FH on PAR Will inflict or again inflict FH on PAR Welfare of children Hardship (family car, EFTPOS card, disabled children)
Also previous interactions with police Mental Illness Alcohol or drug abuse propensity for violence FH history Parenting Orders Protection Orders
When does a PSO come in to effect?
Immediately after they have been served
When considerating the duration of a PSO where should you start at?
Should start with a 24hr duration and then factor in other relevant considerations ie weekends and how long it will take the family to arrange support services