There are concerns Queensland police haven’t given any feedback on proposed domestic violence laws amid widespread doubts about their ability to enforce them.
A bill to change laws to allow for the later criminalisation of coercive control is being examined by a parliamentary committee on Nov. 7.
Queensland Police Union President Ian Leavers says he supports coercive control laws as an extra tool to “make the world a better place.”
Leavers said domestic violence cases take up almost half of the policing workload and that Queensland police received 140,000 domestic violence calls 2021.
However, he’s concerned the Queensland Police Service isn’t taking part in the inquiry into the laws.
“It is concerning the Queensland Police Service is not playing a larger role in the formulation of legislation to combat it,” the union president told the committee on Monday.
“I would further suggest that the police service has not been part of this inquiry, and I think it would be incumbent on them as one of the leading agencies in Queensland that they should be before this inquiry to provide a submission.”
Leavers said he had concerns about the ability of police to enforce any coercive control laws without proper training and resourcing, given the QPS' fixed budget.
Specialist investigators with expert knowledge and experience in coercive control are needed to enforce those laws.
“I'll say this from working with child protection; you’ve actually got to have a passion for that sort of work,” he said.
Leavers said investigating coercive control takes time, and police can’t just sit down with vulnerable witnesses and take statements for three hours.
It could take days, he said, and trying to build a relationship to gather evidence is challenging for police.
“Me turning up as a middle-aged man ... you’ve gotta develop a relationship with a person who’s been a victim for many years for them to open up to you. It’s not easy,” the union boss said.
The proposed laws include penalties for offenders who breach domestic violence orders, protection notices or release conditions when the breach involves physical violence.
Evidence of a history of domestic violence will be admissible in court proceedings under the bill, and domestic violence will be considered an aggravating factor in sentencing.
The proposed laws will also allow non-criminal victims of domestic violence to access assistance from the victims of crime schemes.
