Police and DCP workers unite to combat family and domestic violence

The Department of Child Protection and WA Police have formed a partnership to combat the incidence of family and domestic violence in Western Australia.

Child Protection Minister Robyn McSweeney said while visiting Kununurra, that the partnership aimed to address the occurrence and subsequent effects of family and domestic violence.

"From early 2010, senior field workers from the Department of Child Protection (DCP) and staff from the family protection unit of WA Police will co-locate at the DCP's district office," Mrs McSweeney said.

"This co-location provides a specialised and integrated response in situations of family and domestic violence in Kununurra and other regional centres.

"Both agencies have different mandates in terms of their roles and functions, but there is a strong need to integrate policing and child protection responses given the link between family and domestic violence and the abuse of children."

The Minister said the aim of the collaborative approach was to prevent child abuse in the context of family and domestic violence.

"This is achievable through improved information-sharing and resource-sharing to develop effective risk and safety management plans for situations and individuals," she said.

This announcement follows the successful implementation of the co-location programs in metropolitan Perth. In addition to Kununurra, the new sites identified for expansion include:

·         Albany

·         Bunbury

·         Northam

·         Kalgoorlie-Boulder

·         Geraldton

·         Mandurah

·         South Hedland

·         Broome.

"We hope the co-location model will encourage families and individuals to access services to prevent further family and domestic violence," Mrs McSweeney said.