Source: ACT Police
ACT Policing has served more than 100 family violence and personal protection orders during a significant operation this week.
During the two day activity on Monday and Tuesday (26 and 27 August 2024) officers from General Duties, the High Risk Domestic and Family Violence Investigations Unit and ACT Firearms Registry worked with the Service and Process team to coordinate the serving of:
- 88 Family Violence Orders;
- 19 Personal Protection Orders ;
- 5 Orders for interstate jurisdictions;
- 7 Subpoenas; and
- 6 Summons.
As part of the operation, one person was also taken into custody as they were subject to an arrest warrant and three firearms were seized from another person (as required by the Family Violence Order).
More than 20 officers worked each day to locate the persons and serve the notices.
Family Violence Orders can be an important tool to support victim-survivors escaping family violence. They make it an offence for a respondent to behave in certain ways towards a protected person which might not otherwise be illegal, such as contacting, approaching, or otherwise exerting control over a protected person.
Legislation covering the Family Violence Orders and Personal Protection Orders stipulates that the orders must be served in person. This can prove challenging, especially when the person being served is actively avoiding police. Additionally, investigative techniques normally used by police to locate a person are not permitted to be used when serving court orders.
ACT Policing will continue to prioritise the serving of Family Violence and Personal Protection orders in an effort to ensure the respondents are fully aware of the conditions placed on them by the Court.
ACT Policing stands ready to assist victims experiencing family violence. If you are in this situation – when it is safe to do so – please contact police on 131 444 or Triple Zero (000) in an emergency, or contact a support service who can assist with crisis support, safety planning and advice.
If you require assistance, you can contact:
- Triple Zero (000) in an emergency or life-threatening situation.
- Police Assistance on 131 444 if it is a non-emergency, but you require police assistance.
- The Domestic Violence Crisis Service provides a 24-hour crisis line, advice, safety planning and information every day of the year and can be reached on 02 6280 0900.
- The Canberra Rape Crisis Centre provides a 24-hour crisis line and can be contacted on 02 6280 0900.