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Family violence jumps, community confidence drops under Andrews’ COVID-19 lockdown

A new data portal released today by the independent Victorian Crime Statistics Agency shows the ongoing impact of domestic violence and mental health issues throughout Daniel Andrews’ COVID-19 lockdown.

This portal has confirmed the number of criminal offences related to a family violence incident between 1 April and 30 June 2020 increased by 12.4 per cent over the year prior, with a deeply concerning spike of 40.7 per cent – or more than 108 additional family violence offences every day – recorded in June.

The number of calls to the national sexual assault and domestic family violence service 1800RESPECT has also increased by 66 per cent between April to June 2020, with an alarming 112.9 per cent increase or an additional 4,337 calls, being made in June 2020 over the year prior.

These concerning trends follow the release of 2019-20 Victoria Police annual report, which confirmed community confidence in Victoria Police is at a decade low and the proportion of property and violent crimes against the person being solved within 30 days has plummeted.

With family violence related offending now accounting for more than one in five crimes in Victoria, Daniel Andrews must urgently refocus Victoria Police away from enforcing his confusing and inconsistent lockdown rules and back to keeping Victorian families, businesses and communities safe.  

Comments attributable to Shadow Minister for Police and Community Safety, David Southwick:

“With domestic violence offences up, confidence at an all-time low and fewer crimes being solved, Daniel Andrews has dropped the ball during COVID-19 and left Victorian families feeling unsafe and alone during this difficult period.

“With Daniel Andrews using Victoria Police to enforce his inconsistent and confusing lockdown rules, it’s little wonder why criminals are breaking the rules and getting away with it more often.

“Community confidence in Victoria Police is at a decade low and we must allow frontline officers to refocus on what really matters – keeping Victorians families, business and communities safe.”   

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