Informative discussions on local crime

ON Thursday, July 24 the Neighbourhood Policing Forum was held online. The forum covers the Benalla Police Service Area (PSA), which includes the Benalla, Mansfield, and Murrindindi Shire and discussed current crime trends, crime preventions, young people, family violence, road policing, drugs and drug related crime.

Discussions were led by Superintendent Brett Kahan and Acting Inspector Mark Byers from the Victoria Police Eastern Region Leadership Team.

Acting Senior Sergeant (A/S/SGT) Jen Parker discussed the commitment of the Family Violence and Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team to hold perpetrators accountable and break the cycle family violence.

Family violence reports have increased by 15 per cent in our area, compared to last year. A/S/SGT Parker stated that the increase indicates victims of family violence have trust in our police and matters of will be treated respectfully.

The majority of family violence reported across the Benalla PSA, were reported as verbal incidents, with emotional abuse the second highest form of family violence reported.

Emotional abuse can include excluding someone from spending time with family or friends, it may also include statements such as ‘If you loved me then you would do this for me’ to control someone.

A/S/SGT Parker also stated children were present three quarters of recorded incidents of family violence. While not being directly the victim of the violence, being witness to incidents of family violence causes harm and many live with the effects of trauma from family violence.

It is important to continue to have discussions within the community that family violence is not acceptable, and police are available at any time to support victims.

A/S/SGT Parker stated that detectives work closely with agencies such as Centre Against Violence, Benalla Health and Child Protection to support aggrieved family members.

Leading Senior Constable (LSC) Chris Di Ciero from the Proactive Policing Unit (PPU) discussed the role of early intervention and building trust between…