ACT POLICE have been praised for adopting a ''pro-arrest pro-charge'' approach to domestic violence in recent years, leading to improved results in court case outcomes.
The Commonwealth Parliamentary Library background paper titled Domestic Violence in Australia - An Overview of the Issues said that there had been substantial increases in the arrest rate for domestic violence, from 6 per cent in 1993 to 30 per cent in 2003-04.
''The ACT Family Violence Intervention Program (FVIP) is a proactive, multi-agency approach to family violence in the ACT,'' it said.
''The ACT has a pro-arrest pro-charge policy on domestic and family violence; such cases are fast-tracked through the courts. The FVIP integrates the activities of police, prosecution, courts and corrections and coordinates with other key agencies such as domestic violence advocacy services.''
As a result of the changes there was a 464 per cent increase in the number of family violence matters handled by the Department of Public Prosecutions over the eight years from 1998-99 to 2005-06.
''In addition, the percentage of successful convictions increased from 76 per cent in 2003-04 to 85 per cent in 2007-08,'' the paper stated.
The paper stated that the police response was vital, not only for the victim's safety but also for its power to send a message to the community that domestic violence was criminal.
The leading cause of homicide of Australian women was domestic violence, it said.
''Through the National Homicide Monitoring Program (NHMP), the Australian Institute of Criminology monitors trends and patterns in homicide across Australian jurisdictions,'' it said.
''The NHMP data are the most comprehensive collection on homicide in Australia, providing details of victims, offenders and the circumstances of incidents ... 55per cent of female homicide victims were killed by an intimate partner compared to 11 per cent of male homicide victims.
''Indigenous people were over-represented in intimate partner homicides ... A large proportion of domestic homicides occurred at residential locations [84 per cent]. Hence, the most likely scenario for the homicide of an Australian woman is at home at the hands of an intimate partner.'' JULIEANNE STRACHAN
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