Domestic Violence

In reply to the Hon. K.L. VINCENT (8 June 2016).

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS (Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety): I am advised:

1. South Australia Police (SAPOL) 52 week recruit training program incorporates domestic abuse training which is provided by academy staff, Family Violence Investigations Section (FVIS), SAPOL Employee Assistance Section (psychology) and representatives from Central Domestic Violence Service.

Specifically training is provided to cadets relative to the people in the community with:

Intellectual impairment

Intellectual disability

Communication with those with disabilities

SAPOL also offers the domestic violence investigators course to members working in specialised family violence positions. The course was developed in consultation with a number of key stakeholders including government and non-government (domestic violence services) organisations.

Domestic abuse training is also included within SAPOL’s detective training course, and promotional and developmental framework for the ranks of Senior Constable, Sergeant, Senior Sergeant and Inspector.

Compulsory corporate training is developed and delivered across SAPOL with respect to specific issues where practices may change or be updated, or where it is prudent to refresh knowledge to maintain a high standard of service delivery to victims of domestic abuse.

In 2015, SAPOL developed and delivered a training package for all members titled ‘Policing Domestic Violence’. This package included a 25 page student booklet to aid members in dealing with all forms of domestic abuse. The package identified the five phases of domestic abuse investigation chronology. This chronology was designed as a result of an analysis of key responsibilities as outlined in the Australia New Zealand Policing Advisory Agency Training and Education Guidelines for Family and Domestic Violence.

2. SAPOL specifically provide training to cadets relative to the people in the community with:

Intellectual impairment – cadets are taught techniques when intervening and dealing with intellectually impaired persons

Intellectual disability – barriers and communication difficulties, implications of intellectual disabilities as victims, witnesses, suspects or defendants and resources available to SAPOL for assistance

Communication with those with disabilities – delivered by a TAFE lecturer attached to SAPOL, cadets identify a range of disabilities and apply appropriate communication strategies to people with disabilities

SAPOL provides corporate training on the Disability Justice Plan—Vulnerable Witnesses (the Plan), which is provided to all sworn officers and non-sworn employees who deal with members of the public.

The plan has been developed in recognition that some people with disability are more vulnerable to victimisation and abuse in the community, particularly those with cognitive impairment and/or intellectual disability.

While the plan has a focus on giving a voice to vulnerable victims, it also aims to ensure that people with a disability accused of a crime are able to take part in the criminal justice system on an equal basis with others.

Recognising that not every police officer can be a specialist in all aspects of investigative interviewing with persons who have a severe communication disability or other impairment, SAPOL invests in specialised training to those members who are attached to or seeking a career in the areas of child abuse, family violence or sexual assaults. Specialists from these areas can be and are called upon to provide assistance or consultation to assist all SAPOL employees despite their location.

The establishment of the Victim Management Section in SAPOL provides specific training for specialist investigative interviewers in the gathering of evidence from vulnerable victims and witnesses, which includes people with an intellectual disability, cognitive impairment or a complex communication need.

The training focuses on key legislation changes that affect the collection of evidence obtained from vulnerable witnesses as per the Statutes Amendment (Vulnerable Witnesses) Act 2015 and identifying vulnerable witnesses as per the amended Summary Procedure Act 1921 and Summary Offences Act 1953.