By ANEEKA SIMONIS
Increases in domestic violence reports continue in Cardinia shire marking the worst five-year rise in violence reports across the city’s south-east.
Between July 2014 and June 2015, police received 1319 reports of family violence, up 12 per cent on the incidents recorded in the previous 12-month period.
In the past five years, reported family violence incidents in the area have soared a whopping 108 per cent.
The rise marks Cardinia Shire as the worst local government area for increasing family violence reports across the entire southern metro region which takes in areas including Casey, Dandenong, Frankston, Bayside, Mornington Peninsular and Kingston.
According to the statistics, the City of Casey has recorded a 40 per cent jump from July 2010 to June 2011 while the City of Greater Dandenong experienced a 29 per cent jump in reported family violence incidents.
Domestic violence reports in Cardinia shire trumped the state-wide average of a 8.8 per cent increase in 2014-15.
The high incidence of violence in the area doubled the southern metropolitan increase of 5.8 per cent in the past year.
Alarmingly, children were present at more than 40 per cent of family violence incidents in the area.
Despite Cardinia shire recording the highest overall increase in family violence reports, the City of Casey has the greatest number of domestic violence reports across the south-east – with police receiving 3775 reports in 2014-15.
Pakenham police Senior Sergeant Graeme Stanley said family violence is an ugly crime that has attracted more police resources in recent years in a bid to end the cycle of abuse.
“Family violence is at the forefront of policing.
“We are very mindful of it at Cardinia and have a dedicated family violence unit operating out of Pakenham that offers assistance to victims and, where possible, makes referrals to crisis (support centres),” Sen Sgt Stanley said.
Police currently push a pro-charge, pro-arrest policy on family violence perpetrators as part of their tough approach toward abusers.
Cardinia Family Violence Unit can be contacted on 5945 2500.
