BERWICK
Thursday, 25 March, 2021
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Arrests target hoons
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Colourful celebrations of culture Students at Hampton Park Primary School showed their true colours at the school’s recent Cultural Infusion Concert. The concert is an annual event that is embraced by the multicultural student body, with kids proudly showcasing their national dress, skills, songs and food. This year’s event was a little different to usual thanks to the pandemic, but it went off without a hitch nonetheless. Turn to page 12 for more
Prep student Europa performs an Indian Picture: GARY SISSONS dance. 230434
Casey DV shame By Danielle Kutchel The City of Casey experienced a shocking increase in family violence incidents in the year to December 2020, according to the latest crime statistics. It’s been revealed that the Casey local government area (LGA) experienced a 15.2 per cent increase in family violence incidents 5406 recorded family incidents, compared to 4691 for the same period in 2019. The City of Casey’s family incident rate per 100,000 population was 1480.3 to end of December 2020, above the statewide rate of 1379.7. Family members aged between 25-34 were most frequently affected, with more females affected than males.
And Casey’s family incident numbers far outstrip those of our neighbours in the Southern Metro policing region. Across the border in Cardinia Shire there were 1550 family incidents; in Greater Dandenong, 2818; and in Frankston, 2724. In fact, Casey’s numbers aren’t just the highest in the Southern Metro region - they’re the highest in the state. Hume and Greater Geelong came close, at 4272 and 4283 respectively. However, per 100,000 population Casey’s numbers are slightly less confronting, at a rate of 1480.3 family incidents. This compares to 1894.9 in Frankston, 1657.8 in Dandenong and 1322.8 in Cardinia. Across Victoria, there was a 9 per cent in-
crease in family violence incidents reported to police in 2020, with the actual average monthly numbers higher than what was forecast. CEO of Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre, Rita Butera, said that the “significant” rates of family violence were “concerning”. “Safe Steps has noticed a significant increase in calls to our service, probably a 20 per cent increase,” Ms Butera said. Some of those calls have been from family, friends and neighbours concerned for a loved one’s safety, she said, as awareness of family violence increases in the community. While she said that much of the prevention work being undertaken in the space was focused on long-term cultural change, she
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said Covid had led to an increased awareness of family violence and increased effort by State and Federal governments to counter the scourge. “I think it’s important to understand that Covid doesn’t cause family violence,” she said. “However, there are factors that may be contributing to it ... in the past, many people would have had safety plans and ways of managing in a family. It may be the kids being at school, having opportunities to visit friends or get out of house when you need to, but during lockdown in particular all those protective factors were kind of taken away - so the risk of course increased during that time because of that.” Continued page 3
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