Consider Victoria Police issuing family violence intervention orders in the field

The Department of Justice and Community Safety worked collaboratively with Victoria Police, Family Safety Victoria and the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria to review the changes in family violence service delivery over the past five years following the implementation of key recommendations made by the Royal Commission into Family Violence. This review focused on the five preconditions that the Royal Commission recommended be in place prior to the consideration of police issued Family Violence Intervention Orders (FVIOs). This review was informed by data analysis and stakeholder consultations with the family violence sector.

Recommendation 59 is complete, with the Attorney-General as the lead minister for this recommendation endorsing that police should not be given the power to issue Family Violence Intervention Orders in the field, at this time.

The Royal Commission outlined that consideration of police issued FVIOs must be subject to the advice of the recommended Statewide Family Violence Advisory Committee (SFVAC) and Family Violence Agency (FVA). The Family Violence Reform Advisory Group (FVRAG) currently serves the role of SFVAC, and Family Safety Victoria was established and operates as the FVA. The decision was endorsed by both FVRAG and FSV prior to being endorsed by the Attorney-General.

The decision of FVRAG, FSV and the Attorney-General was informed by qualitative and quantitative evidence from robust evaluation of the current family violence system, data analysis and engagement with more than 40 key stakeholders. Victoria’s family violence reforms are underpinned by victim survivor agency and voice. The Victim Survivor Advisory Council was consulted in this process.

The Department of Justice and Community Safety is progressing work to respond to findings of the Recommendation 59 Acquittal project, and it is anticipated that police issued FVIOs will be reconsidered in the future.

Implemented.