By Yvette Brand*
From the frontline of family violence investigations to a research and education role, Senior Sergeant Ben Vahland’s commitment to holding perpetrators to account is clear.
Sen Sgt Vahland hopes his work in researching and educating peers on non-fatal strangulation in family violence will change the outcome of many family violence prosecutions.
Being recognised as the Victoria Police Glenn Paton Family Violence Practitioner of the Year is a worthy honour for the Warragul police officer, but the impact his work is having on reducing harm and achieving better outcomes for victim survivors is what is most important.
In his 19 years in the police force, Sen Sgt Vahland said his investigations were almost always touched by family violence in some way.
As a detective working in the Dandenong, Narre Warren and Pakenham areas, he said any significant incident they responded to had a background of family violence.
With the Royal Commission into Family Violence recommending ongoing education of police members, Sen Sgt Vahland took the opportunity to move into a role where he believed his detective skills, combined with his passion for education, would make a difference.
But it was the murder of Phillip Island’s Samantha Fraser in 2018 that made Sen Sgt Vahland think differently – beyond the high-profile case being yet another family violence statistic.
He turned his attention to researching strangulation, particularly non-fatal strangulation and how better education of police members, support agencies and medical professionals could help reduce the harm.
Much of Sen Sgt Vahland’s research work has been in collaboration with the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine who prepare reports for courts and the coroner.
But it is his education role that he believes can have the most significant impact.
Through a pilot program being rolled out in metropolitan and regional areas, Sen Sgt Vahland is working closely with members to help them understand and define strangulation, while also identifying factors that need to be addressed during investigations.
The education is targeted at investigators, prosecutors, frontline officers, first responders and eventually will include medical professionals in the hope they will all gain a greater understanding of non-fatal strangulation presentations.
The end result, he hopes will be more successful prosecutions.
Sen Sgt Vahland said 10 per cent of family incidents in Gippsland involved non-fatal strangulation that was disclosed by surviving victims. But, he said, the success rate of prosecution in these incidents was low – partly because strangulation was not yet recognised by legislation as a stand-alone offence, meaning charges can range from unlawful assault to attempted murder.
“There was a lack of understanding on how to get a successful prosecution for a more serious offence. So part of the education is what to look for at the crime scene and what are the key factors. That’s where my detective skills have really helped in my education role.
“It’s all about reducing harm and holding perpetrators to account. But we have to get this right and have a good understanding of how significant and how serious it is.
In simple terms Sen Sgt Vahland wants his work to help police officers, first responders and medical professionals to better identify the signs and symptoms and strangulation.
But why is his research so important? Because, the statistics of strangulation are confronting.
Sen Sgt Vahland said a woman who had been strangled was 750 times more likely to be killed in subsequent family violence incidents; and, one in 47 women who survived strangulation were likely to suffer a stroke in the months following.
“It’s about power and control. There is probably nothing more controlling than being held around the neck and saying I have control of you.
“Strangulation is the highest risk behaviour. I haven’t seen a higher risk where it will impact mental and physical outcomes,” he said.
While humbled by the recognition as family violence practitioner of the year, Sen Sgt Vahland said he was very proud of the work he had done.
“But for me, it’s more about the hard work ahead and getting better outcomes for victim survivors of family violence.
“It all gets back to the core reason of why I joined this organisation and that’s to help people.
“It’s my ability to impact and help people in the community who are victims of family violence.
As an organisation, Sen Sgt Vahland believes Victoria Police is making a difference.
“And we are, there is confidence among victims to report, or neighbours to report because we are responding and holding perpetrators to account.
“I would like to see the level of reporting plateau but I am not sure that will be in my generation. It’s a community issue. It’s an issue we have to collaborate across all sectors, it’s not just a policing issue
Ultimately, while he says it is a simplistic message, Sen Sgt Vahland said perpetrators need to just walk away. “Make another choice…just don’t do it.”
If you or someone you know is experiencing family violence, phone 1800 RESPECT (1800 737732).
For counselling, advice and support for men who have anger, relationship or parenting issues, call the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491.
If you need immediate help, call triple zero 000.
* Yvette Brand is editor of the Warragul Drouin Gazette.
