Crime Statistics Agency releases 2015-16 Victorian Family Violence Database

31 May 2017

MEDIA RELEASE

Embargo: 9:00AM Wednesday 31 May 2017

Crime Statistics Agency releases 2015-16 Victorian Family Violence Database

The Crime Statistics Agency has today released key family violence measures from the 2015-16 Victorian Family Violence Database (the Database), partially acquitting recommendation 205 made by the Royal Commission into Family Violence in March 2016.

Recommendation 205 states that ‘[t]he Crime Statistics Agency maintain and develop the Victorian Family Violence Database and consider what additional data sets should be incorporated in the database, how links between all relevant datasets can be created, and how the database can otherwise be developed [within 18 months]’.

This iteration of the Database, collated by the Crime Statistics Agency, includes the following data sources and relates to the data collected between 1 July 2011 and 30 June 2016;

·         Victoria Police

·         Magistrates’ Court

·         Children’s Court

·         Integrated Reports and Information System – Department of Health and Human Services

·         Victorian Emergency Minimum Dataset – Department of Health and Human Services

·         Victims Assistance Program – Department of Justice & Regulation

·         Victims of Crime Helpline – Department of Justice & Regulation

·         Victoria Legal Aid

The last volume of the Database was prepared by the Crime Statistics Agency on behalf of the Royal Commission into Family Violence to inform their findings. This volume included all of the above data sources and covered the period from 1 July 2009 to 30 June 2014.

Crime Statistics Agency Chief Statistician Fiona Dowsley said that this release of information from the Victorian Family Violence Database will fill a key information gap in the past two years.

‘The Database has been a vital resource for Victoria since 2002. This release highlights the increasing demand for family violence services across Victoria and across a range of government departments and agencies.’ Ms Dowsley said.

‘The CSA is pleased to provide this update to the Victorian Family Violence Database and we will continue to publish timely data. We will also seek to expand the scope of the Database over time.’

Further information about the 2015-16 Victorian Family Violence Database can be found on the CSA website:

http://www.crimestatistics.vic.gov.au/home/family-violence-data-portal