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Action! YouTube video combats violence against women
in the west....
Women’s Health West and Victoria Police collaborated to produce a short film
that shows women how to collect evidence if their intervention order has been
breached. ....
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Intervention
orders are issued by courts against perpetrators of violence to protect women
and children who have experienced family violence. They outline certain
conditions to increase the woman’s safety. Unfortunately, intervention orders
are frequently ignored and those conditions then breached, seriously
compromising the safety of family violence victims.....
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‘What
if the intervention order is breached? How to collect evidence’ is a five
minute film featuring local women demonstrating simple and practical ways of
gathering evidence. ....
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“Family
violence is the leading contributor to death, disability and illness in
Victorian women aged 15-44,” said Dr Robyn Gregory, Chief Executive Officer of
Women’s Health West.....
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“When
women report a breach of their intervention order to Victoria Police we want
them to know that we will take all breaches seriously and follow our
obligations under the Code of Practice for the Investigation of Family
Violence” Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Simon Overland said. ....
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“A
breach of an intervention order is a criminal offence and we know from our data
that women’s safety is often compromised when this occurs. Where appropriate we
will use our arrest powers to ensure the safety and well being of victims.” ....
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In
2007/08, Victoria Police charged perpetrators for breaches of intervention
orders in 7547 instances. This increased to 7791 in 2008/09 (increase of 3%
from 2007/08). ....
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“So
it’s vital for women’s safety that they understand their rights, and methods
for gathering evidence of any breaches of their intervention order. Up to now,
women have struggled to provide evidence of the breach to the police, given it
usually occurs in the privacy of their home or without witnesses.” ....
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“This
fantastic film project offers important advice in new and accessible ways to
increase the safety of women in the west,” said Dr Gregory. “It will also make
the difficult job of policing these breaches easier.”....
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“While
three quarters of women in the north-west metropolitan region have home
internet access, we are also producing DVDs for those women unable to access
the YouTube version.”....
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The
film will be available from 1 October on YouTube, the Victoria Police website,
the Women’s Health West website, other family violence organisation’s sites and
on ..DVD... ....
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Women
experiencing abuse from family members can contact Women’s Health West on 9689
9588 or 1800 015 188 after working hours or the Police on 000. Remember
committing family violence is against the law and there are laws to protect
victims of family violence.....