Nestled in amongst the Macedon Ranges police service area, Kyneton has a mix of history, art and culture. The local police work hard to be part of the community and keep crimes, such as family violence, at bay. Kyneton Police Station’s Sergeant Mark Bell freely admits his views of family violence have altered over the past few years. A police officer of more than 22 years, Sgt Bell has attended many family violence incidents. He said once upon a time, he would have thought to himself ‘why don’t these women just leave?’ “I’m not proud of it, but I sometimes did think that,” he said. But, since taking on the role as the Kyneton Family Violence Officer and dealing with family violence victims, support services and court services, Sgt Bell’s attitude is very different. “I now always think, what can I do to help?” Compared with metropolitan areas, Kyneton doesn’t have the same volume of reported family violence, but Sgt Bell said it was a serious problem for the area. “There are still far too many,” he said. “Our biggest concern is actually the people who aren’t reporting, so we hope to be able to reach them in some way.” Sgt Bell is the chairperson of the Macedon Ranges Family Violence Network which is made up of representatives from local council, community groups, local churches and businesses. “Of course a big part of our job is as first responders to family violence incidents. But another part is to help raise awareness and to ensure victims and survivors are aware of the resources available to them.”
The orginal cell block still exists at Kyneton.
It was through this network, that Sgt Bell came up with the idea of getting support service information printed on the back of local supermarket receipts. “For some of these women, with very controlling partners, having a phone number saved in their phone or a business card in their wallet could be very dangerous for them,” Sgt Bell said.
Senior Sergeant Tim Douglas recently transferred from the Sunbury Police Station to Kyneton and is enjoying the change of pace. “There is always plenty going on up here,” he said. “Some of the issues we encounter are family violence, mental health-related issues and of course drugs and the flow on effect from that.
“I thought, if we could put support service information on the back of a supermarket docket, where anyone can access it, it could be explainable to someone with a controlling partner to have this information in their purse or bag.”
“Our police station also has a Crime Investigation Unit (CIU) and a Highway Patrol unit (HWP).
Sgt Bell hopes to have the message on the back of shopper dockets in all supermarkets in the local area.
“All the members out here are great to work with, and all support each other where they can. Everything is a team effort.”
“I contacted Shop A Docket and they have been fantastic with helping us get this project to fruition,” he said.
Detective Senior Sergeant Steve Cole is the head of the CIU and said detectives were kept busy with residential burglaries.
“Based on their rough figures, within a six month time frame, the shopper dockets could be distributed more than half a million times.”
“We have some new estates nearby, with lots of houses under construction. We often see thefts of trailers and work tools as well.
Sgt Bell also hopes to distribute posters with the same information, to pubs, clubs and cafés in the area and to put on the back of the doors in women’s toilets.
“Over the summer, there is always the threat of fires in our area. We have seen some big ones over the years, so during that period we can also be kept busy with emergency management.”
“Where is the one place that women can go to get a minute’s peace if they are in an abusive relationship? The toilet. If the information is there right in front of them, they might then use those few minutes of alone time to ring the support services while they can.
“The HWP are kept especially busy with the Calder Freeway and keeping on top of serious injury collisions on that major thoroughfare.
“These are just some small ideas we are going to trial. We have to think outside of the box to try and reach our most vulnerable victims.” Sgt Bell is also planning a White Ribbon Golf Day for later in the year. The Kyneton Police Station was rebuilt in 2011 around the original cell building. Prisoners are no longer kept in the freezing cold bluestone building, but it holds historical significance.
Ldg Sen Const Paul O’Connell and Sen Const Joel Woods talk to a Kyneton local.
Image Out and about 01 Sgt Bell keeps an eye on things inside the Kyneton Police Station. Editorial: Janae Houghton Photography: Shane Bell
Sen Sgt Douglas and Sgt Bell discuss recent incidents.
POLICE LIFE | SPRING 2016
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