Implemented
Who is leading the change
Victoria Police
Victoria Police amend the Victoria Police Code of Practice for the Investigation of Family Violence to provide guidance and examples in relation to when it is appropriate to seek personal property conditions in family violence intervention order.
The Victoria Police Code of Practice for the Investigation of Family Violence has been amended to include more specific guidance about seeking personal property conditions in Family Violence Intervention Orders. Personal property conditions within a Family Violence Intervention Order are an important tool in preventing economic abuse, protecting victim survivors' personal safety and helping them recover from family violence.
This guidance material will be embedded in family violence education programs developed by Victoria Police’s Centre of Learning for Family Violence.
The Royal Commission made a number of recommendations to improve guidance for police in the Code of Practice on a number of topics. To implement these recommendations new practice notes on a range of specific topics have been included in the Code of Practice.
The ‘Personal property conditions in Family Violence Intervention Orders’ practice note has been developed to implement this recommendation. This practice note:
- Highlights the importance of personal property conditions in affording the protected person safety and protection by preventing the perpetrator from continuing to exert control over them
- Provides specific examples of when it is appropriate for police to seek personal property conditions and guidance for obtaining conditions
- Details interaction of property and exclusion conditions
- Provides guidance for police when attending property collections
- Highlights the importance of utilising property exchanges as an opportunity for risk assessment and management
This practice note also incorporates changes to practice recommended by the State Coroner in the Inquest into the death of Kelly-Ann Thompson in 2016.
The amended Code of Practice incorporating this practice note has been published on the Victoria Police website. It has also been communicated to family violence teams and operational police across Victoria Police.
This recommendation has been implemented.
- Implemented.
Updated