Victoria Police is relentlessly pursing some of the state's most notorious family violence perpetrators with dozens arrested in a major operation.
Almost 70 offenders - many actively evading authorities - have been arrested in just three days.
It's part of the force's ongoing commitment to hold perpetrators to account and ensure the safety of victim-survivors.
Most of those arrested have allegedly committed multiple violent crimes against current and former partners.
They include assaults and threats as well as harassment and technology-facilitated abuse.
Some have blackmailed victims into keeping their whereabouts secret, have multiple outstanding warrants and are flouting family violence safety notices and family violence intervention orders.
Those arrested include:
• A 31-year-old man who allegedly assaulted his former partner in a public place, leaving her requiring hospital treatment for a facial laceration, significant bruising and broken teeth. The man had been avoiding police for a month and was also wanted for theft and drug-related charges. He will face court later this month.
• A 39-year-old man who allegedly assaulted his former partner, leaving her with severe bruising. It's alleged he also assaulted the woman's dog. The man had been avoiding police for three months. Police allegedly found him in company of the former partner, breaching a family violence intervention order. He also allegedly contravened a community corrections order for drug possession, failing to answer bail and assaulting the same former partner. The man was remanded to face court later this month.
• A 25-year-old man found hiding under a bed at his partner's house despite a family violence intervention order requiring him to stay away. The man was wanted for several family violence incidents and stealing his partner's vehicle. He was remanded to face court at a later date.
• A 43-year-old man who allegedly committed technology-related abuse against a former partner and contravened a family violence intervention order. He'd been evading police for four months. The man was arrested and released pending summons.
• A 29-year-old man who allegedly persistently contravened a family violence intervention order. The man, wanted for almost a month, had also been sought over theft-related offences. He was found while allegedly attempting to steal from a shopping complex. He was charged and remanded to face court later this month.
Police served 47 family violence intervention orders and executed 58 outstanding warrants over the three days of the operation, which took place in Victoria Police's
Southern Metro Region.
Local police and those from the Family Violence Command Taskforce led the effort with support from the Public Order Response Team.
Victoria Police regularly conducts operations of this kind on top of the tireless work of frontline police to arrest family violence offenders and bring them before the courts.
Last month, dozens of arrests were made in just a matter of hours when specialised units teamed up to target and apprehend perpetrators known to actively avoid police detection for family violence offending.
In just one day, police served around 80 family violence intervention orders to offenders.
Statewide, police arrest one family violence perpetrator every 18 minutes.
If you are concerned about your own or someone else's behaviour support services are available. No to Violence runs a Men's Referral Service which helps men who use violence to change their behaviour and can be contacted on 1300 766 491.
If you or someone close to you discloses they are a victim of family violence, please believe them and encourage them to contact police or a support service.
Support is available 24 hours a day through Safe Steps by calling 1800 015 188 or emailing [email protected]
In an emergency call Triple Zero (000). If you can't get to a phone, ask someone else to do it for you.
Quotes attributable to Southern Metro Region Inspector Rodney Maroney:
"We've made dozens of arrests as part of this operation.
"It shows just how serious we are in ensuring family violence offenders are held responsible for their actions and the harm they wreak on their partners and children.
"Family violence is never acceptable. It can never be excused and it can never be justified.
"That's why we will continue to work tirelessly to proactively target and apprehend offenders and keep victims safe."
Quotes attributable to Family Violence Command Taskforce Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Andrew Cummins:
"This is a joint effort with Southern Metro Region to locate and target family violence offenders.
"Some have gone to great lengths to avoid apprehension displaying coercive control over their victims or using friends and family to stay in hiding - but they are always in the sights of police."
"Our message is clear: there is nowhere to hide. We will find you and we will hold you to account for your actions."
