The Crime Statistics Agency has today released key family violence measures from the 2016-17 Victorian Family Violence Database.
The Database includes data for the period between 1 July 2012 and 30 June 2017 from across a range of Victorian government agencies. Data included relates to:
- Family incidents recorded by police
- Family violence intervention orders
- Emergency department presentations
- Family violence services for women and children
- Men’s behaviour change programs
- Legal services provided by Victoria Legal Aid
The number of family incidents recorded by Victoria Police decreased by 1.9% from 78,006 in 2015-16 to 76,500 in 2016-17. Similarly, the number of original family violence order applications finalised in the Magistrates’ Court and Children’s Court decreased by 0.1% and 3.9% respectively.
Crime Statistics Agency Chief Statistician Fiona Dowsley said that the justice sector has seen a decline in the number of family incidents and family violence intervention orders.
The ongoing maintenance and development of the Database continues to address recommendation 205 made by the Royal Commission into Family Violence in March 2016.
Recommendation 205 stated that the Crime Statistics Agency should ’maintain and develop the Victorian Family Violence Database and consider what additional data sets should be incorporated in the database, how links between all relevant datasets can be created, and how the database can otherwise be developed [within 18 months]’.
Further information about the 2016-17 Victorian Family Violence Database can be found on the CSA website:
http://www.crimestatistics.vic.gov.au/family-violence-data-portal (External link)