Domestic violence doesn't just affect families. It also weighs heavily on the professionals who deal with its consequences day in and day out. "It is one of the less-appealing environments officers walk into," Southern Region Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner Joe Cassar said. "It is one of those key crime categories that doesn't go away, and it makes up a good portion of our policing work." Read more: First look inside Clifton's grand Imperial Hotel restoration Assistant Commissioner Cassar said many people who weren't personally or professionally affected by domestic violence would be shocked to learn how common it is. "Some people have their head in the sand," he said. "It's very common, and it doesn't discriminate by gender, ethnicity or religious beliefs. "The data does suggest offenders are overwhelmingly male. "Even when there are male victims, it can be a son who hit his father, or an ex-partner of a woman who attacked her current partner." "Historically it was all about physical assaults, but now there's a greater appreciation of the impact of emotional violence. "We always knew it was occurring, but we've really encouraged reporting, and I feel comfortable saying that I think now the reporting numbers are a more accurate reflection of what's happening in the community." Read more: Multiple Wollongong venues close doors after COVID exposures Now the focus is on proactive policing to bring those numbers down. Assistant Commissioner Cassar said a generational shift in views on domestic violence must happen. For the Global 16 Days Campaign to end gendered violence, the Southern Region Police District has profiled 16 local men calling for change. "It is unacceptable," Assistant Commissioner Cassar said. "No one should have to put up with it, and we want to show 16 normal guys, not sports stars, not models, just local men, saying it is unacceptable to assault or emotionally abuse anyone." As part of the global campaign, the Illawarra Women's Health Centre has pushed for the NSW government to fund a local trauma recovery centre, which would be a one-stop shop for those fleeing abusive relationships to access the services they need, including psychological support, legal support and physiotherapy. The business case for the centre, which would cost $10 million over three years to build and run, has been with the state government since July, with no response. To read the letter pushing for a solution to gendered violence by 2031 go to: bit.ly/3CMJjyp To sign, go to: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1fDkeoXtb54hn7QPzrxNenq-gGqJ5ROvau7QBHzvvslQ/edit#gid=0 The Illawarra Mercury newsroom is funded by our readers. You can subscribe to support our journalism here. Sign up for breaking news emails below ...
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December 1 2021 - 10:20AM
Illawarra cops call for action on 'unacceptable' levels of gendered violence
Zoe Cartwright
Police conduct a proactive domestic vilence home check. Image supplied.
Domestic violence doesn't just affect families.
It also weighs heavily on the professionals who deal with its consequences day in and day out.
"It is one of the less-appealing environments officers walk into," Southern Region Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner Joe Cassar said.
"It is one of those key crime categories that doesn't go away, and it makes up a good portion of our policing work."
Read more: First look inside Clifton's grand Imperial Hotel restoration
Assistant Commissioner Cassar said many people who weren't personally or professionally affected by domestic violence would be shocked to learn how common it is.
"Some people have their head in the sand," he said.
"It's very common, and it doesn't discriminate by gender, ethnicity or religious beliefs.
"The data does suggest offenders are overwhelmingly male.
"Even when there are male victims, it can be a son who hit his father, or an ex-partner of a woman who attacked her current partner."
"Historically it was all about physical assaults, but now there's a greater appreciation of the impact of emotional violence.
"We always knew it was occurring, but we've really encouraged reporting, and I feel comfortable saying that I think now the reporting numbers are a more accurate reflection of what's happening in the community."
Read more: Multiple Wollongong venues close doors after COVID exposures
Now the focus is on proactive policing to bring those numbers down.
Assistant Commissioner Cassar said a generational shift in views on domestic violence must happen.
For the Global 16 Days Campaign to end gendered violence, the Southern Region Police District has profiled 16 local men calling for change.
"It is unacceptable," Assistant Commissioner Cassar said.
"No one should have to put up with it, and we want to show 16 normal guys, not sports stars, not models, just local men, saying it is unacceptable to assault or emotionally abuse anyone."
As part of the global campaign, the Illawarra Women's Health Centre has pushed for the NSW government to fund a local trauma recovery centre, which would be a one-stop shop for those fleeing abusive relationships to access the services they need, including psychological support, legal support and physiotherapy.
The business case for the centre, which would cost $10 million over three years to build and run, has been with the state government since July, with no response.
To read the letter pushing for a solution to gendered violence by 2031 go to: bit.ly/3CMJjyp
To sign, go to: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1fDkeoXtb54hn7QPzrxNenq-gGqJ5ROvau7QBHzvvslQ/edit#gid=0
Sign up for breaking news emails below ...