MILDURA police Family Violence Investigation Unit (FVIU) detectives are making real progress in addressing the region’s high family violence incident rates, with more than a dozen offenders charged in January alone.

The FVIU is a specialist unit of Victoria Police, and was established in Mildura in July 2018.

Local FVIU detectives are responsible for managing serious and complex family violence investigations, while also managing high-risk victims and perpetrators of family violence.  

Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Matheson, PICTURED, who heads up the local unit, said that FVIU detectives had charged more than a dozen offenders with serious offences in January, including persistent breaches of intervention orders, threats to kill, recklessly cause serious injury, intentionally cause serious injury, aggravated burglary, blackmail, stalking with a tracking device and firearms offences.

“Recently, a male family violence perpetrator was involved in a serious family violence incident where he assaulted a female and made threats with a firearm,” he said. 

“He was initially remanded for more than a month. 

“While providing support to the victim, police identified that she was in fear, and that as a result she had withdrawn her complaint to police.  

“Investigations revealed the offender had threatened the victim during a four-week period from prison, forcing her to withdraw her statement.  

“He was subsequently also charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice, and while the matter is still before the courts, a lengthy jail sentence is expected. 

“If these additional qualified detectives were not in place this offender would more than likely be free in the community, putting further people at risk.”

Victoria Police implemented dedicated FVIUs following recommendations made in the Royal Commission into Family Violence’s final report, which called for a model to strengthen the investigation of family violence offences to be developed. 

It was recommended that qualified investigators be embedded within FVIUs, and have the capability and capacity to investigate serious and complex cases; manage high-risk, complex and repeat cases; and support general duties police and specialist units.

Mildura was among the first regions in the State to incorporate a FVIU into its ranks, namely due to the region’s family violence incident rate per 100,000 population being nearly three times higher than the State average.

According to the latest Crime Statistic Agency data, Mildura’s family violence incident rate is currently 3054.8 per 100,000 population (the State average is 1205.7 per 100,000 population.) 

It’s a figure that also ranks Mildura third in the State when it comes to family violence incidents per 100,000 population.

Det. Snr Sgt Matheson said that drugs, alcohol, mental health, financial stress and separation were currently the top drivers of family violence in Mildura.  

“In Mildura alone, more than 70 percent of victims are repeat targets of violence,” he said.

“Police believe it is highly likely that generational family violence contributes significantly to the rate of repeat victimisation in and around Mildura.  

“This is being driven by drug and alcohol use, mental health and financial issues. This combination is self-perpetuating, and will continue to lead to increased repeat reporting of family violence. 

“It is highly likely that the drought that has encompassed large sections of Australia is also impacting on Mildura in relation to family violence, including repeat incidents. 

“Until this national situation eases, it will continue to impact the reporting of family violence through community-felt stress. 

“It is also likely that the current general societal views and concepts relating to family violence has encouraged a rise in reporting, including from repeat victims. 

“Reporting will increase as this empowerment continues to gather momentum.”

Det. Snr Sgt Matheson said detectives were also aware that technology was being used more by perpetrators to breach intervention orders.  

“I have no doubt that we will start to see online safety and technology developed to support victims of family violence and sexual violence in the very near future,” he said.  

“In another positive for our community, local police have commenced using digitally-recorded evidence to successfully assist with investigations, and increased guilty pleas by providing higher quality evidence in court.”