New police assessment tool to help stop domestic and family violence NSW Police has launched a new safety assessment tool as part of a whole-of-government campaign to end domestic and family violence. The NSW Police Force Domestic Violence Safety Assessment Tool (DVSAT), part of the NSW Government ‘It Stops Here Referral Pathway’, has been launched in the areas covered by Waverley Local Court and Canobolas Local Area Command. The DVSAT has been developed to allow police to accurately and consistently record the level of threat to a victim of domestic and family violence, complementing their professional judgement, to determine the most effective way to address individual needs. Assistant Commissioner Murdoch said the DVSAT formalises the risk assessment process for operational police. “While assessing victim safety is instinctive for police, the DVSAT provides officers with a consistent and comparable risk assessment for a victim of domestic violence,” Assistant Commissioner Murdoch said. “The DVSAT replaces the current DV Checklist and allows for automatic online referrals to support agencies, who will continue to assist police in reducing future harm to victims. “Importantly, the DVSAT is intended to help police identify future harm to any victim of domestic or family violence, whether male or female, and part of either an intimate or non-intimate relationship.” All victim referrals will be electronically managed and monitored at a central referral point with Victim Services, Department of Attorney General and Justice, who will ensure victims are referred to local coordination points, who in turn will offer victims appropriate support services. “Police will continue to mitigate the risk to victims by conducting thorough investigations and applying for Apprehended Domestic Violence Orders (ADVOs) as required,” Assistant Commissioner Murdoch said. “Our Domestic Violence Liaison Officers (DVLOs) will continue to spend time with victims, follow-up on cases and can increase recorded threat levels at any time if circumstances change or if they deem appropriate. “Finally, we will host regular Safety Action Meetings (SAM) with local representatives of relevant government agencies and domestic violence support organisations to help develop focused action plans to prevent serious threats to the life, health or safety of domestic violence victims,” Assistant Commissioner Murdoch said. Police are initially implementing the DVSAT within Eastern Suburbs, Eastern Beaches, Rose Bay, Botany Bay and Canobolas Local Area Commands, with the all remaining Local Area Commands across NSW expected to be using the DVSAT by July 2015. The NSW Government Domestic and Family Violence framework for reform ‘It Stops Here: Safer Pathway’ was launched in February 2014 by Minister for Women, Pru Goward, aimed at a better future for everyone affected by the trauma of domestic and family violence.
Posted on: Tue, 07 Oct 2014 20:06:13 +0000
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