Canberra's police chief wants early intervention programs strengthened to stop cycles of family violence and drive down domestic abuse rates.
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ACT chief police officer Rudi Lammers said three murders, as well as "an unusual amount of suicides", related to family violence in the territory in recent weeks had brought the problem to the forefront.
It was exacerbated by offenders who struggled with alcohol and drug addiction and mental health conditions, Assistant Commissioner Lammers told ABC Radio.
He called for early intervention programs in schools to teach young children about appropriate behaviour towards girls and women.
"The messages are getting across but much more needs to be done in education, much more needs to be done at a very early age, early intervention programs need to be strengthened," he said.
"We already do a lot around health and welfare but really need to also target intergenerational crime, the perpetuation of violence against girls at an early age that people inculcate into their lives and before you know they're adults and they're abusing women."
The recent wave of public attention had not corresponded with a spike in family violence offences and rates of reported incidents had remained relatively steady in the ACT.
"In 2008-09 we had just over 3000 reports to us of family violence and we had about 3300 reports last year," Assistant Commissioner Lammers said.
"What is pleasing is more women - and family violence is usually perpetrated against women - are coming forward and are reporting acts of violence to us and we're working more closely with groups to support women, and in some cases men, who are subjected to family violence."
He said the stigma often linked to family violence had lessened and welcomed a shift in the way police responded to family violence matters.
"When my officers used to go to a job where there was a domestic dispute, we used to simply say, 'Leave it up to the couple to sort itself out, it's not a matter police get involved in'. We don't do that any more.
"We're proactively involved in family matters, we provide real, beneficial support to families and children and women involved in family violence. We also work with women to make sure they're safe."
Assistant Commissioner Lammers, who is a White Ribbon ambassador, encouraged any woman who felt trapped in a cycle of violence to prepare an escape plan.
"Family violence is not just about physical assaults, it's about mental assaults, it's about men denying opportunities to women. It's about simple things like not giving them access to a credit card so they've got nowhere to go and they feel confined."
He said that plan could include setting cash aside, making sure they had access to a bank account and car, and ensuring there was a trusted friend they could go to for help.
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit www.1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.
