The Nationals’ Member for Shepparton District, Kim O’Keeffe, has called on the Minister for Police and Community Safety, Anthony Carbines, in Parliament to address the significant police shortages impacted by the rise in family violence incidents in the Shepparton District. Ms O’Keeffe is also calling for a dedicated Family Violence Response Team and increased police resources for the Shepparton Station.
“I recently met with Shepparton Superintendent Brett Kahan who said that up to 75 per cent of policing resources can be taken up by family violence incidents, reducing the capacity to attend to other matters.
“Superintendent Kahan spoke strongly on the need for more staff for the Shepparton Station, indicating the requirement for an additional six officers and two sergeants to be added to a dedicated Family Violence Response Team. This would be a new model dedicated to address family violence.”
Ms O’Keeffe said the statistics speak for themselves, and the need to have a higher level of support and resources to what is currently in place for local police.
“Breach of family violence orders now sit as the number one crime in Shepparton.
“I have also contacted the Minister for Prevention of Family Violence, Natalie Hutchins requesting her support to address the alarming rise in family violence and to support the need for a dedicated Family Violence Response Team as well as increased police resources for the Shepparton Station.
“The recent rise in family violence is a clear indication of the desperate need.
“Family violence incidents in Greater Shepparton have increased by an alarming 31.3 per cent with this number expected to rise.”
A total of 2,436 family violence order breaches were recorded to the year ending December 2024, equating to approximately one breach every three hours and one of which represents the highest breach rate in Victoria for that period.
“I am so grateful for our hard-working police who are doing the best that they can to keep our communities safe, but they can only manage so much with the resources that they have which is currently falling well short.
“I have urged the Ministers to address this urgent matter and provide the Shepparton Police Station and the community with the support that they need.
“This is just another example that the Allan Labor Government can’t manage crime, can’t manage community safety and its Victorians who are paying the price.”
