Call to get tougher on repeat FV offenders
28 September 2015
Call to get tougher on repeat FV offenders
KIM QUINLAN- The Courier, 28th September 2015
GETTING TOUGH: A Ballarat family violence survivor is calling for harsher penalties
for violent partners and ex-partners who breach court orders.
A YOUNG Ballarat mother is pleading for tougher penalties for violent partners who continue to breach court-mandated restraining orders.
Melita Brimblecombe, 24, now lives in fear of her life after her former partner was sentenced to a three-year monitored corrections order only a few months ago for breaching an apprehended violence order.
And this is not the first time her violent ex-partner has been dealt such lenient penalties for breaching restraining orders.
His recidivism in recent years has resulted in either fines or corrections orders, meaning he is free to walk the streets. And this is after he has attended anger management and behaviour change courses.
"(He) thinks these orders are just a piece of paper ... a joke, but the courts keep handing out these (light) penalties straight off the bat. Even the police thought he would be going to jail (after his last court appearance a few months ago)," Ms Brimblecombe said.
During the latest court appearance when Ms Brimblecombe's victim impact statement was being read out, her former partner sat and laughed.
"He has so much contempt for the court system," she said.
The young mother has been left in debt by constantly moving to flee her former partner, who has always managed to find her and either sends "thugs" around to intimidate her, remove fuses from her power box or leave water running outside.
After the last move, Ms Brimblecombe sought financial assistance from Victims of Crime to help pay for security screens on doors and windows, deadlocks and even the installation of security cameras. "I'm sick of running and I'm sick of hiding. I'm in debt from running," Ms Brimblecombe said.
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Ballarat Superintendent Andrew Allen is encouraging a push to "name and shame" family violence perpetrators and those who breach court orders.
"As the divisional commander, I am strongly committed to resourcing this unit. - Ballarat Superintendent Andrew Allen"
"If we are to embed cultural change, then people need to know who these offenders are," Superintendent Allen said.
He said a dedicated family violence unit in the Ballarat Division worked hard and predominantly "got it right" when dealing with cases.
And ongoing training of the dedicated sergeant and six police officers in the Ballarat unit was important when dealing with family violence issues, he said.
"As the divisional commander, I am strongly committed to resourcing this unit," Superintendent Allen said.
a) Click here to view the article online
b) Click here to return to the WRISC homepage
KIM QUINLAN- The Courier, 28th September 2015
GETTING TOUGH: A Ballarat family violence survivor is calling for harsher penaltiesfor violent partners and ex-partners who breach court orders.
A YOUNG Ballarat mother is pleading for tougher penalties for violent partners who continue to breach court-mandated restraining orders.
Melita Brimblecombe, 24, now lives in fear of her life after her former partner was sentenced to a three-year monitored corrections order only a few months ago for breaching an apprehended violence order.
And this is not the first time her violent ex-partner has been dealt such lenient penalties for breaching restraining orders.
His recidivism in recent years has resulted in either fines or corrections orders, meaning he is free to walk the streets. And this is after he has attended anger management and behaviour change courses.
"(He) thinks these orders are just a piece of paper ... a joke, but the courts keep handing out these (light) penalties straight off the bat. Even the police thought he would be going to jail (after his last court appearance a few months ago)," Ms Brimblecombe said.
During the latest court appearance when Ms Brimblecombe's victim impact statement was being read out, her former partner sat and laughed.
"He has so much contempt for the court system," she said.
The young mother has been left in debt by constantly moving to flee her former partner, who has always managed to find her and either sends "thugs" around to intimidate her, remove fuses from her power box or leave water running outside.
After the last move, Ms Brimblecombe sought financial assistance from Victims of Crime to help pay for security screens on doors and windows, deadlocks and even the installation of security cameras. "I'm sick of running and I'm sick of hiding. I'm in debt from running," Ms Brimblecombe said.
See your ad here
Ballarat Superintendent Andrew Allen is encouraging a push to "name and shame" family violence perpetrators and those who breach court orders.
"As the divisional commander, I am strongly committed to resourcing this unit. - Ballarat Superintendent Andrew Allen"
"If we are to embed cultural change, then people need to know who these offenders are," Superintendent Allen said.
He said a dedicated family violence unit in the Ballarat Division worked hard and predominantly "got it right" when dealing with cases.
And ongoing training of the dedicated sergeant and six police officers in the Ballarat unit was important when dealing with family violence issues, he said.
"As the divisional commander, I am strongly committed to resourcing this unit," Superintendent Allen said.
a) Click here to view the article online
b) Click here to return to the WRISC homepage
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