Violencenoway.org

Violence against people in the Far North Queensland is at an unacceptable level. This level of violence has led to members of the community and government and non-government agencies, co-operating to counter this major blight.

Even though there may be many underlying problems which are contributing to violence, it has been identified that ‘would be’ offenders’ attitudes need to be changed from using violence as a response to solve a problem. This includes changing the belief that “it is alright to commit violence” and “alcohol made me do it”.

There are three main times when violence can be addressed. This is prior to a violent event, during the event or after the incident has occurred. Police and community members are working together to address this type of behaviour at all times and have had some success with introducing Protective Behaviours for all primary school children, police being more proactive when attending an incident and are working with agencies to use a case management approach, post event. Offender programs have just been introduced into the Cairns area and police will prefer criminal charges where warranted.

Violence can only be addressed either prior to the violent event, during the event or after it has occurred. Below is a diagram highlighting some of the initiatives that at times could be used during this cycle of violence!

The community cannot afford to place a police officer in every house, school, hotel or street corner to prevent violence from occurring. The only way we can reduce the incidence of violence significantly is to educate the community not to commit this unlawful act. It may take a generation, but this message needs to be broadcast wherever and whenever it can. Those in our communities who use violence need to understand that any form of unlawful violence is unacceptable.

This message builds on the success of the 2001 Walk Away Cool Down Campaign in which it was recognised it had been “extremely well accepted by stakeholders and has certainly increased awareness of prevention strategies suitable for domestic violence and anger management” (Carmody 2002)

The level of violence related offences in the Far Northern Region is too high. Statistics from the QPS Statistical Review 2004 – 2005 show, quite clearly, that the rate of offences for Assaults (including serious assault, grievous bodily harm and common assault) is over double the state average.

Figure 1: Rates per 100,000 population of all Assaults. State Average 486 offences per 100,000 population

Figure 2: Rates per 100,000 population of all Common Assault.

Figure 3: Rates per 100,000 population of all Serious Assault.

Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence breaches are well over double the state average.

Figure 4: Rates per 100,000 population of all Domestic Violence Breaches. State Average 239 offences per 100,000 population.

Domestic violence is a significant social problem in Australia. As with many personal crimes, domestic violence is believed to be significantly under-reported (Carcach & James 1998). For example, the national Women’s Safety Survey conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (1996) found that only 20 per cent of women who had experienced violence called police for assistance. Similarly, the Crime and Safety Survey (ABS 2002) found that only 31 per cent of assault victims and 20 per cent of sexual assault victims reported the crime to police. Therefore any statistics regarding the prevalence of domestic violence can be assumed to underestimate the problem (Policing Domestic Violence in Queensland, Meeting the Challenges, 2005)

The Criminal and Misconduct Commission (CMC) goes on to report that it is more likely in indigenous communities that violence is committed. This statement is supported by the previously quoted statistics. The CMC report continues to infer that it is likely that these types of offences are well underreported.

The overall aim of the campaign is to significantly reduce the incidence of violence in the Far Northern Region.

The campaign is being managed by a joint-agency working committee made up of representatives from many of the stakeholder organisations with an interest in reducing violence. Primary members of the steering committee have been selected from district violence prevention committees. One such committee is the Mareeba and Tablelands Violence Prevention Committee, established in 2002. Another such committee in this region is the Cassowary Coast Violence Prevention Committee situated in the Innisfail/Tully area.

The Mareeba and Tablelands Violence Prevention Committee (MTVPC) was first established in 2002 out of a common need to co-ordinate and enhance support services to all persons affected by domestic violence, sexual violence and violence against children.

It supports a broad area including Mareeba, Kuranda, Atherton, Dimbulah, Malanda, Millaa Millaa, Herberton, Mt Garnet, Mt Molloy, Ravenshoe, Croydon, Einasleigh, Mt Surprise, Mt Garnet, Walkamin, Tolga, Wondecla, Mutchilba, Biboohra, Koah; and Tinaroo.

The committee consists of about 36 members representing organisations such as the Queensland Police Service (QPS), Department of Communities, Women’s Support Services, Indigenous groups, Community Justice, Corrections, Families, Children and Teenagers, Elder Women’s group, Religious, Education and Support Services in general. The supportthe MTVPC provided the impetus behind the “Violence – No Way March” held at Mareeba.

March 2006 saw the first of the Violence No Way Marches. Approximately 200 men, women and children marched through the central business district of Mareeba to proclaim the violence no way message. Representatives from the judiciary, Council, men’s groups, women’s groups, schools and police all took part.

• The outstanding success of this march far exceeded expectations of organisers and shows a real concern from community members about violence in our midst.

• This was a real example of the community being prepared to stand up and indicate in person that “enough is enough”.

No longer is violence a “behind closed doors” issue and continued efforts to keep it the focal point within the public forum is of paramount importance.

• Further marches are planned at Yarrabah and other communities within the Far Northern Region.

An evaluation will be conducted using both quantitative and qualitative performance measures with assistance from the Far Northern Region Police Intelligence and Research Officers.

The project will have an action research methodology via continual feedback between members. It is foreseen that all member organisations will build the capacity to generate learnings. In turn they can reflect on these and develop new models, implement improvements, and offer mutual support.

Research cited by Peter Homel from the Australian Institute of Crime in July 2005 states that programs for the effective delivery of crime prevention outcomes need to be a combination of national and statewide measures together with carefully targeted local initiatives. Locally-tailored delivery processes are seen as the optimal service goal. Regional management is seen as a method for achieving efficiencies of scale in service management and delivery infrastructure and as efficient platforms for monitoring performance. This campaign takes this evidence based approach.

Stronger organisational partnerships between all members of the consultative committees, the Queensland Police Service, local Councils, service delivery agencies, the Youth Justice Service, Community Corrections, the Department of Communities and Education Queensland will contribute to the development of future collaborative projects.

Anecdotally, a greater policing presence, or heightened community confidence, may increase the number of reported incidents. It may also boost the number of reportable offences. For this reason, the evaluation process will need to take into account that, on the surface, quantitative results may indicate increased violence rates, when in fact; it will be recording an increase in ‘reported’, and not ‘actual’ offences.

The campaign has commenced in summer 2006. The primary reason for this is that over the summer months, violence increases in the Far North. This is generally attributed to hotter weather, increases in drinking alcohol and financial difficulties over the Christmas period.

It is proposed the campaign will be conducted for a minimum of twelve months and if it continues to be a success, will run for as long as there is sufficient interest and outcomes.

This campaign plan is dynamic, allowing it to be modified as new strategies are developed throughout.

It is our aim to develop as many partnerships and resources within in the community as possible to use this message to educate the community. This is to be achieved through community service television advertisements, radio advertisements, newspaper advertisements, bumper stickers, posters, team sponsorship and launches to name a few. This is a community effort and as such, no paid advertisements will be developed. It is hoped to use the community and resources supplied through sponsorship/grants to provide the education materials needed.

Partnerships have already been developed with a number of organisations. These are included at on the violencenoway.org web pages. Figure 6 provides some examples of currently used advertisements.

Figure 6: Newspaper Community Service Advertisements in Use

Launches

Community launches of the campaign will be conducted across the Far North Region. Launches commenced in December 2006.

At those launches campaign material, including posters, T-shirts, caps and bumper stickers, are given out to members of the community.

Web Pages

The Violence No Way Campaign web page is located at violencenoway.org.

The web pages will include links to other important self-help web pages but will also include critical information about the campaign and its message. Important links to men’s and women’s help lines will be available through this medium.

Television Advertisement

It is hoped to make at least one television advertisement which will be aired on a community service basis. The committee is actively seeking role models who are prepared to stand up and tell their fellow men and women that using violence to solve their problems is unacceptable.

Peer pressure is an important way to change attitude and if the right role models are involved in this campaign it will go some way towards attaining campaign objectives.

Radio Advertisement

Similarly, role models will also be sought to make community service radio announcements. These will be distributed to over 50 radio stations in the Far North of the State.

Print Media

Partnerships have all ready been formed with local newspapers with a view to increasing the media coverage. One newspaper has already committed to using Violence No Way “fillers” when space is available.

Both A2 and A4 sized posters are available to be placed anywhere in the region. These will be used for various poster campaigns throughout the year

Through the Electronic Crime Watch Bulletins in the Far Northern Region, over 1500 businesses will be asked to take part in the campaign. The business community will be encouraged to display an A4 poster which they could use to identify themselves as a supporter of the Violence No Way Campaign.

It is proposed that an A5 poster will be developed for caravan park notice boards advertising where help can be obtained for victims and perpetrators of violence.

It is proposed that a partnership will be formed with at least two medical associations in the Far Northern Region to place A4 size posters in surgeries. It is hoped that this will be linked with an existing program with the Queensland Health.

Hospitals are also places where many victims attend, and once treated, never report the incident to police. Through a partnership with Queensland Health, it is hoped to increase awareness at our hospitals that if a complaint is made, police and the community will take action.

The committee all ready has strong links with Queensland Education in the Far Northern Region. Through this link Protective Behavior lectures have been delivered to all primary school children in state schools. It is proposed that the campaign will focus on bullying and other forms of violence.

It is hoped to develop a number of resources that schools can use including posters, lecture material and even developing messages for placement on items such as school lunch bags and book labels.

Small A5 size posters will be placed on community notice boards. Local Police will be expected to monitor these and obtain permission from the agencies responsible for maintaining those notice boards.

Violence No Way Banners will be available for any event and can be placed in prominent places within the region. Already the first banner has been used in Mareeba and at the Atherton Maize Festival.

It is hoped to be able to link with many sporting teams within the region, encouraging teams to wear with pride a Violence No Way cloth patch on their jersey or shorts. AFL Cape York has already indicated its desire to be part of the campaign.

The consumption of alcohol appears to reduce a person’s capacity to make informed decisions and often alcohol is blamed for violent acts. Because of this, licensed premises will be targeted through the use of posters and coasters advertising the message Violence No Way.

Throughout the year various events are held across the Far Northern Region including street parades, marches, festivals and special interest times such as sexual assault week, domestic violence prevention month and child protection week.

These events will be used to market the Violence No Way message and are seen as an invaluable opportunity. This has already occurred with committee members attending the Mareeba Rodeo and Atherton Maize Festival parades.

The slogans for a number of different bumper stickers have already been developed. Partnerships are planned with the business community to distribute the stickers as widely as possible.

Initially it is hoped that all emergency service vehicles and agencies working with the Violence Prevention Committee will use the bumper stickers. Partnerships could include offering the bumper stickers through commercial outlets such as service stations. The bumper stickers will be offered free of charge.

• Artwork has been provided by Constable Greg Dwyer – Cairns Scenes of Crime and Kim Straatemeier

• The wording for slogans have been resourced from a number of contributors in the Far Northern Region.

In reality, there needs to be a change in the mindset of some members of the community to stop committing violent acts. Alcohol, though used as an excuse, does not cause violence, people do. There is no quick fix to reducing bullying, abuse and violence in the community and every individual needs to take a stance. In the Far Northern Region, this campaign is one step forward in making that stand.

For further information about the campaign, or if you would like to assist in being actively involved, please call the Mareeba Police District Office on 4030 3331.