By JESSE GRAHAM
YARRA RANGES Police weathered an “out of control” weekend for domestic violence incidents, according to Monbulk Police Sergeant, Mark Knight.
Sgt Knight told the Mail on Monday, 14 September, that police were called out to numerous domestic violence incidents over the weekend, from Friday 11 to Sunday 13 September.
“Saturday night was out of control, absolutely out of control,” Sgt Knight said.
“I had 10 incidents before 1700 hours, and I started at 3pm (1500 hours), and it just got worse after that.
“It just went on and on all night.”
Sgt Knight said he worked as the Police Service Area (PSA) Supervisor over the weekend, and that police were called out to spots right across the Yarra Ranges, from Healesville to Yarra Junction and Monbulk.
He said a “number of offenders” were arrested for breaching intervention orders, with about five of the family violence incidents occurring in Monbulk alone.
Sgt Knight gave the example of a 43-year-old Monbulk man, who was arrested on Friday, 11 September.
He said the man had been hiding in his ex-wife’s front yard, before smashing the front window of the property.
The man was charged with stalking, unlawful assault and criminal damage, and was bailed to appear in court on 4 February 2016.
Sgt Knight said the victim would go to court on Tuesday, 15 September, to have an intervention order put in place.
“That was a really good clean-up, that,” he said.
“He would have caused that family a number of concerns.”
Sgt Knight said the man did not previously have an intervention order in place against him.
When asked whether those charged with domestic violence complied with intervention orders and their conditions, Sgt Knight said offenders were “constantly breaching them”.
“We feel they’re just not adhering to the orders that the magistrates make,” he said.
“Because they’re a civil process, they don’t see them as a big deal until the criminal sides of the breaches commence.”
He said that, once offenders spent the weekend in a cell, sometimes the message sank in.
But with consistent breaching of the orders and “the seriousness and nature of offending”, Sgt Knight said those charged with domestic violence were rarely just released on summons, instead being charged and bailed to appear at court.
“With consistent breaching by offenders, we look at pro-remand, that side of things, with remanding men,” he said.
“If it’s a first-time offence, we wouldn’t, of course.
“We’ve got this pro-arrest strategy, and we’re considering remanding, further remanding all of the time.”
But he emphasised that each case was “taken on its merits”, rather than taking blanket action on the matter.
“It’s just the onus is on each case,” Sgt Knight said.
“If the circumstances warrant a remand, we’ll make applications before a bail justice … or to the magistrates.”
Any person can apply for an intervention order through the Magistrates’ Court – though an appointment is needed for some courts.
Police can also assist in applying for an order in some cases.
Police are also able to refer people concerned for their safety on to other support services, as well as listening to concerns, even if no crime has occurred.
In an emergency, or for immediate help from police, always call triple zero.
