RECENTLY we observed White Ribbon Day.
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I was scheduled to attend and deliver a short speech. Unfortunately, due to an escalating fire I was unable to attend.
It’s important to note that in Ararat we have the tenth highest reporting of family violence in the state. There is a very good reason for this.
It’s as simple as we do not tolerate any form of FV or violence against women or children so we very vigorously pursue perpetrators and on many occasions we actually instigate the proceedings.
This of course drives our statistics up, but it’s something I make no apology for and in fact we intend to step up our efforts in identifying and dealing with FV related matters.
Family violence and violence against women and children is a horrific personal crime, but the police need the community to assist in helping us deal with this scourge.
So what can we do to play our part in reducing this crime and to ensure perpetrators are brought to justice.
- It’s important that we understand what constitutes FV as there are many different forms. It may be physical, emotional, financial, psychological or some other form.
- Many perpetrators carry out these acts in a manner to avoid detection or being identified. The reality is that someone, somewhere knows about it and they must speak up to break the cycle.
- Make that effort to have a conversation with the affected person or if it is violent, then the intervention is calling the police. We must make that effort.
- It’s important to realise that the act of committing FV is never excusable, but in many cases there are contributing factors. Alcohol, drugs, financial, mental illness on many occasions play their part in these crimes.
- It’s very important that we combine a number of intervention methods to deal with and prevent FV. This intervention may be prosecution, counselling, advice or all of these things to obtain the best result.
Most days we get up and enjoy our day, week, month or year. Unfortunately for many, this isn’t the case.
It is difficult to imagine what it would be like to every day be subjected to violence, torment or behaviours that constitute FV.
It just doesn’t seem fair.
Everyone deserves the right to be happy, that’s why I urge you all to learn about FV, take notice, intervene and break the cycle so that together we can try and make some of those days normal, happy and safe for victims.
