More than 900 family violence perpetrators have been tracked down in a major police operation.
Operation Enforceable - an initiative of Victoria Police's Family Violence Command - saw specialist units from across the force unite to proactively target and apprehend family violence perpetrators known to actively avoid police detection.
Those with outstanding warrants or unserved family violence intervention orders (IVO) were also targeted to ensure the safety of victim-survivors.
The statewide operation, which was a first of its kind, resulted in around 460 arrests.
Police also interviewed 317 offenders wanted over family violence-related matters, served more than 450 family violence intervention orders and executed 480 outstanding warrants.
The operation took place over six days from Monday 16 October to Wednesday 18 October and between Wednesday 9 August to Friday 11 August.
Frontline police, family violence investigation units and the Family Violence Taskforce led the operation, with support from the Public Order Response Team, VIPER Taskforce and Intelligence and Covert Support Command Proactive Targeting Teams.
Arrests included:
• A 33-year-old man for family violence offending including viciously assaulting his pregnant partner and making threats with a knife, as well as evading police following an attempted arrest earlier this month. The man was arrested and remanded in custody.
• A 33-year-old man with four warrants and two whereabouts. One of the warrants included a family violence-related aggravated burglary, where the man forced entry into a unit occupied by his former partner and her five-year-old son. The man had been avoiding police for five months and was arrested and remanded in custody.
• A 34-year-old man wanted by police for 967 days for an outstanding warrant relating to family violence assaults on multiple female victims, breaching community correction orders, burglary and criminal damage. The man was arrested and remanded in custody.
• A 33-year-old man with eight warrants for family violence assaults, theft, a driving offence, contravening a community correction order and driving while disqualified. The man was arrested and remanded in custody.
• A 47-year-old man for using a mobile phone to harass and stalk an aggrieved family member who had been wanted by police for 112 days. The man was arrested and interviewed.
• A 21-year-old man with a 192-day outstanding warrant for contravening a community correction order and persistently breaching intervention orders against a female victim. The man was arrested and bailed.
Operation Enforceable forms part of Victoria Police's ongoing commitment in responding to family violence and holding perpetrators to account.
If you or someone you know is experiencing or at risk of experiencing family violence please seek help from police or a support service.
Support is available 24 hours a day through Safe Steps by phoning 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. Victoria Police is here to support you.
Quotes attributable to Family Violence Command Acting Superintendent Holly Dalrymple
"Across Victoria our frontline police attend more than 93,000 family violence incidents a year. That's roughly one every six minutes.
"When we're talking about family violence, we're predominantly talking about men committing acts of violence and abuse against women and children. But it's important to acknowledge family violence doesn't discriminate. It impacts all people of all backgrounds in all communities.
"This operation shows just how serious we are in holding family violence offenders to account and ensuring the safety of victim-survivors.
"We are sending a strong message to family violence perpetrators that these violent crimes will not be tolerated.
"The message we want to get out there to victim-survivors is when you're ready, please speak to us or to one of the amazing support services available. Know that at Victoria Police we will believe you and we will take action to protect you and your loved ones."
