Family Harm #Policy and Procedures

Question 1

Principles that guide Police practice

Answer 1

Early Intervention
Culturally appropriate
Safety
Collecting risk information
Accountability
Working collaboratively

Question 2

Social consequences of family harm include

Answer 2

Crime
Physical health
Mental health
Poverty

Question 3

Family violence includes:

Answer 3

Physical
Sexual
Psychological abuse within domestic relationships

Question 4

The stages of a family harm investigation

Answer 4

Active case management throughout

1 Initial response
2 Investigation and crime scene examination
3 Interviewing witnesses, victims and suspects
4 Child Protection Protocol
5 Considering arrest
6 Charging
7 Bail
8 Prosecution or case disposition
9 Longer term safety, support and intervention
10 Monitoring and evaluation

Question 5

Two simultaneous actions should occur where a Police member is involved in a family harm incident?

Answer 5

• the normal Police response applies
• welfare considerations are important for both parties and the shift supervisor should, where appropriate, refer the matter to the local Welfare Officer.

Question 6

Where a Police member is involved in a family harm incident Police must consider?

Answer 6

• The impact of any criminal offending on the ability of an employee to remain a Police employee
• The compatibility of an employee convicted or found guilty of a family violence offence and/or being the respondent of a protection order, to continue in a policing role

Question 7

Who makes the final decision on Police supporting an application to vary the standard conditions of a Protection Order

Answer 7

DCE People in consultation with the National Manager: Criminal Investigations Group upon receipt of the report from the district

Question 8

When must Police serve a protection order

Answer 8

• the respondent holds a firearms licence, or
• the respondent is believed to be in possession of or have access to a firearm (whether or not they have a licence), or
• service is assessed as being a significant risk to the server, or
• the protection order is granted without notice

Question 9

Serving protection orders must be afforded priority and carried out without delay. Police will ensure that:

Answer 9

• Robust information sharing, collaborative risk assessment and safe service delivery practices for protection orders will be developed and implemented in conjunction with courts
• At the time of service, police will demand surrender of all firearms and firearms licences
• Staff safety is of paramount importance when determining appropriate methods to seize firearms or firearms licences
• The officer serving a protection order will contact the victim and inform them that service has occurred
• All breaches of protection orders and property related orders will be taken seriously and if there is sufficient evidence, it is expected that in most cases the offender will be arrested and prosecuted for the breach

Question 10

A protection order automatically affords protection to?

Answer 10

The applicant
Any child of the applicant’s family
A child aged 17 years and older (‘an adult child’) remains protected by the order until they leave home

Question 11

After determining that a temporary protection order is to be issued, the District Court can detain the person for a period not exceeding?

Answer 11

Two hours for the purpose of issuing and serving the order

Question 12

It is a condition of every protection order that the respondent must not:

Answer 12

• physically or sexually abuse the protected person
• threaten to physically or sexually abuse the protected person
• damage, or threaten to damage, property of the protected person
• engage, or threaten to engage, in other behaviour, including intimidation or harassment, which amounts to psychological abuse of the protected person
• encourage any person to engage in behaviour against a protected person, where the behaviour, if engaged in by the respondent, would be prohibited by the order.

Question 13

When is contact is not in breach of the standard non-contact conditions

Answer 13

• reasonably necessary in an emergency
• permitted under any order or written agreement regarding contact, care or custody of a minor
• permitted under any special condition of the protection order
• necessary for the purposes of attending a family group conference
• necessary to attend a settlement conference under the Care of Children Act 2004

Question 14

Weapons, a respondent must not:

Answer 14

• possess , or have any weapon (firearm, airgun, pistol, restricted weapon, ammunition or explosive) under their control
• hold a firearms licence

Question 15

The respondent must surrender to Police any weapon in their possession or under their control (whether or not it is lawfully in their possession or under their control) and any firearms licence held by them:

Answer 15

• as soon as practicable after the service of the protection order on them (and within 24 hours of the service), and
• on demand made, at any time, by a constable.

Question 16

When can Police approve the issue of a firearms licence while there is a protection order against the applicant.

Answer 16

Never!!