Almost 300 southern-based police officers have undergone coercive control training in the last week as part of a statewide program being rolled out to government and non-government organisations in Tasmania.

Assistant Commissioner Rob Blackwood said Tasmania Police has worked closely with the Tasmanian Government’s Safe at Home Program to deliver the training.

“We have developed interactive training sessions in collaboration with the Small Steps 4 Hannah Foundation, designed to help participants recognise and respond to coercive control,” he said.

“Last week in the south of the state 289 police officers across all ranks and 35 state service employees from the Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management completed the training.”

“This is in addition to 400 participants from more than 75 government and non-government organisations.”

“We’ve received numerous reports from both police and non-police participants who are now more aware of the signs of coercive control and are making changes in their own work to reflect this.”

“The training focuses on understanding coercive control, a pattern of behaviour designed to dominate and control victims.”

“This type of abuse, often hidden, is a strong predictor of severe violence.”

“The response to these sessions shows that by collaborating we can raise awareness and build advocacy to support and drive change.”

“Family violence is an incredibly complex area of policing, and the ongoing training of our staff is absolutely essential,” Assistant Commissioner Blackwood said.

“These incidents are some of the most important and complex jobs we attend as police officers, and the positive difference we can make is immeasurable.”

The training was delivered in Tasmania’s north west in September, and will be rolled out in the north of the state early next year.