Tasmania Police is committed to supporting victim-survivors of family and sexual violence involving police members, and holding offenders within Tasmania Police to account and preventing them from further offending.
Key points:
- A proactive intervention response in relation to family and sexual violence matters involving police members has been established, which includes an independent Family and Sexual Violence Involving Police Review Committee.
- The Family and Sexual Violence Involving Police Policy has been developed by Tasmania Police’s Professional Standards Command and the Safe Families Coordination Unit to ensure the safety, wellbeing and interests of victims of family and sexual violence involving police.
- Wellbeing Support is available to police members and their families to assist with support during any experience of family and sexual violence – call 6173 2873 or email wellbeing@dpfem.tas.gov.au at any time.
- If you are a partner of a police officer who is committing family or sexual violence, or a police officer who is a victim of family or sexual violence, assistance outside of Tasmania Police is available.
Family and Sexual Violence Involving Police Policy
Developed by Tasmania Police’s Professional Standards Command and the Safe Families Coordination Unit, our Family and Sexual Violence Involving Police Policy provides clear direction for the response, investigation and management of family and sexual violence involving police – as well as the establishment of an independent Review Committee which ensures impartial and objective review of all incidents of family and sexual violence involving police.
This Policy aims to promote trust and accountability in the community that the Tasmania Police response to members who are victims or perpetrators of family violence and sexual violence is fair, appropriate and in accordance with the law.
The Family and Sexual Violence Involving Police Review Committee
A key feature of the Family and Sexual Violence Involving Police Policy is the establishment of the Family and Sexual Violence Involving Police Review Committee (Review Committee).
The Review Committee is the key body within the review structure for family and sexual violence involving Tasmania Police members and has been established to provide assurance to parties of family and sexual violence involving police that such incidents will be reviewed with impartiality.
Review Committee – Chair and members
The Review Committee is led by independent chair Ms Deborah Bailey and comprises of internal and external subject matter experts.
Chair – Ms Deborah Bailey
Ms Bailey was recently the Principal Solicitor for the Women’s Legal Service Tasmania and brings with her a wealth of experience including Director of the National Redress Scheme, and Director – Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
Ms Bailey also has experience as a family violence counsellor and was a former police officer with Victoria Police.
Review Committee Members
Members of the Review Committee include:
- Commander Professional Standards
- Legal services representative
- Victim representative/advocate
- Safe Families Coordination Unit representative.
Tasmania Police advisors to the committee include:
- Inspector Professional Standards
- Family and Sexual Violence involving Police Investigator
- Wellbeing Support Services representative.
The Review Committee is responsible for reviewing Tasmania Police attendance, actions and management of family and sexual violence incidents involving sworn members of Tasmania Police. It is not a decision-making body.
As the Review Committee is separate from the initial response and actions, it is well placed to review matters in an impartial and objective manner, and is also responsible for making broader recommendations for amendments to Tasmania Police policy, procedures and practices, where opportunities for improvement are identified.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if I am a victim of family or sexual violence involving police?
Anyone who is the victim or a witness to family violence should not hesitate to contact police or an assistance service.
All violence is unacceptable, and family violence should not be tolerated. If you hear, see or know of someone who is affected by family violence – or if you are a victim of violence or abuse – please speak up.
If you are a victim of family or sexual violence involving a police officer, we are aware that you may be reluctant to report it, as you may not want your colleagues to be aware of your personal circumstances.
If you do not feel comfortable making a report via the Police Assistance Line or at a local police station, you can make a report through Professional Standards on 6173 2158 or complete a Statement of Complaint and email it to familyviolence.professionalstandards@police.tas.gov.au.
Alternatively, you can contact the Tasmanian Government’s Family Violence Response and Referral Line on 1800 633 937 – which offers an information and referral service through which callers can access the full range of response, counselling, information and other support services.
You can also access support service available from our Family and sexual violence support services page.
In an emergency, always call Triple Zero (000).
What happens with reports of past (or historical) incidents involving current members?
The barriers to reporting family and sexual violence can lead to past or historical matters being reported many years after the abuse occurred.
Past or historical matters are those that have not occurred recently – where victim safety is no longer immediately at risk or where an offence no longer falls within statute of limitation timeframes.
Classification of an incident as ‘past’ is at the discretion of the Tasmania Police Divisional Inspector/Duty Officer and should also be informed by the present likelihood of the reported behaviour adversely affecting the safety, wellbeing and interests of a person impacted by the family and sexual violence.
Past or historical matters involving a police officer can be reported directly to Professional Standards by phone, email, or written statement. Professional Standards is then responsible for classifying and determining the most appropriate management of the incident.
Information on the response to family and sexual violence incidents involving police can be found in the Tasmania Police Manual, available on the Routine Disclosure page.
Wellbeing Support Services (Tasmania Police members)
Wellbeing Support is available to police members and their families to assist with support during any experience of family and sexual violence.
If you need support, please contact 6173 2873 or email wellbeing@dpfem.tas.gov.au at any time.