The Queensland Police Service (QPS) with support from the Tara Brown Foundation have launched an online video to shine a light on domestic violence within outlaw motorcycle gangs (OMCG) and raise awareness of support and reporting pathways.
Through a series of interviews with bereaved family and friends, along with domestic violence support agencies, The Tara Brown Story shares the story of 24-year-old Tara Brown who was murdered on the Gold Coast in 2015 at the hands of her ex-partner, a member of an Outlaw Motorcycle Gang. In 2017, Lionel Patea was convicted and given a life sentence for Tara's murder.
As part of Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month, the QPS hosted a premiere screening and panel discussion yesterday on the Gold Coast, where Natalie Hinton, Tara's mother and founder of the Tara Brown Foundation explained the importance of this film.
"I am grateful and very passionate to be part of the continuing awareness, prevention and conversations about domestic and family violence," Natalie said.
"Thank you to QPS for their ongoing efforts to further strengthen their response to DFV and the work put into Project Kairos highlighting the extreme danger women face being associated with OMCG."
Detective Chief Superintendent Roger Lowe said the film was made as part of Project Kairos, a national anti-gang prevention initiative that aims to pull back the social media curtain and reveal through first-hand accounts the violent and criminal reality of outlaw motorcycle gang membership and the enduring impact it can have on family and friends who are non-gang members.
"What happened to Tara was utterly devastating and I am so thankful to Tara's mother and her friends for their powerful contributions to this production," Detective Chief Superintendent Roger Lowe said.
"The Tara Brown Story is challenging to watch - as it was difficult to re-visit for police and Tara's family and friends - but the reasons this is confronting are the very reasons we want to talk about the links between OMCGs and domestic violence. "Together with the Tara Brown Foundation, police want to expose the misogyny and extreme levels of violence against women that are prevalent within these gangs so that we can prevent future tragedies.
"As a former gang member who appears in this film attests, violence is part of everyday life within these gangs, which places women in relationships with OMCG members at a disproportionately high risk of being the victim of domestic violence," Detective Chief Supt Roger Lowe said.
Compared to the general adult Queensland population, OMCG are seven times more likely to have a Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Order in place listing them as the respondent. They are 12 times more likely to having committed a DFV related offence.
Domestic and family violence is not only physical - it can be emotional, sexual, financial, social, spiritual, verbal, psychological or technology-based.
Detective Superintendent Brendan Smith, Operations Commander for the Organised Crime Gangs Group said the QPS is committed to holding perpetrators to account and assisting women in high-risk relationships to seek support.
"The Queensland Police Service is determined to work with agency partners and the community on preventing, disrupting and responding to this scourge on our society and further strengthening our domestic and family violence response," Detective Superintendent Smith said.
"The Organised Crime Gangs Group has specialised officers who know the gang environment and are trained to assist victims of domestic and family violence, working alongside other specialist Commands and support services so if you need help please reach out," Detective Superintendent Smith said.
The Tara Brown Story, produced by the Queensland Police, is available online and will be accompanied by ongoing community outreach by the Organised Crime Gangs Group to raise awareness of the risks and to reach vulnerable community members about exit pathways.
This prevention initiative was produced in partnership with the Australian Federal Police National Anti-Gangs Squad and National Taskforce Morpheus, a multiagency approach to combating crimes linked to OMCG nationally and internationally.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic and family violence, you should report it to police.
Confidential contact can be made with a Taskforce Maxima officer via the OMCG Exit page.
Support and counselling is available from the following agencies:
- DVConnect Womensline: 1800 811 811
- DVConnect Mensline: 1800 600 636
- 1800 RESPECT: 1800 737 732
More information is also available from the Queensland Government Domestic and Family Violence portal.
For more information on the Tara Brown Foundation visit www.tarabrownfoundation.com.au
