And now the Police want the power to issue ‘instant’ DVOs. It seems to me that this is yet another smoke-screen the police are using to ‘ease’ their work-load.

The concept being, Herbert The Violent (that’s the Herbert who has just beaten the tripes out his spouse or children) can be slung out on his ear and forced to stay away.

The concept appears, at first assessment, to have merit. But on second thoughts, the police already have a wide range of charges which they can use to contain a truly violent partner. For a proven assault, as opposed to, ‘My partner just said something man to me and I actually need him out of here before my ‘new’ partner arrives,’ the police can arrest and detain the perp…And so they should.

But now they want the job of judge and or jury by making instant assessments of a ‘situation’ and handing out instant DVOs. That is NOT their task. Their task is to enforce laws, take appropriate actions in the circumstances, then leave matters to the court to decide an appropriate solution.

We must not allow this initiative to progress beyond the media.

Cheers
David.