The Truth About Domestic Violence: Do Our Support Services Actually Work?

Do you know what your state is doing to try and tackle domestic violence?

On today’s episode of The Briefing, we continue our focus on what you might not know about domestic violence.

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Antoinette Lattouf sits down with the Assistant Commissioner of NSW Police, Stuart Smith to discuss what tools and strategies police across the country are engaging in to fight domestic violence.

Assistant Commissioner Smith details what his state have implemented, particularly measures which have rolled out over the last few months.

“If we have a look where we commenced coercive control which is a legislation package about to start in February of next year. In preparation of that, we’ve done a number of changes including the way we interface with victims,” Assistant Commissioner Smith said.

“Now, we spent around twelve months developing the Empower You app… we partnered up with Google and Apple and Telstra, and we’ve now provided a high-end interface with victims where service delivery is at your fingertips.

The ability to collect your thoughts in a diary and the ability to set up a security network is all contained within that app. And that’s the first part of a significant technology package, which will include upgrades to allow officers to capture digital evidence directly from the court.”

Emily Dale from the national domestic violence advocacy group Full Stop Australia also joins today’s episode to unpack what strategies government and police are missing, and what the focus needs to be going forward.

To hear her chat with Antoinette and to catch the rest of Assistant Commissioner Smith’s conversation, listen to today’s episode of The Briefing.

If you, or anyone you know needs help with domestic and/or family violence, there are many resources available:
1800 RESPECT: 1800 737 732
Lifeline: 13 11 14
If you are in need of immediate assistance, call Triple Zero (000)