An inquest into Queensland police’s handling of the death of Hannah Clarke and her three children has prompted Western Australia’s police minister to examine how the state’s force handles domestic violence cases.
Clarke’s husband Rowan Baxter set fire to the family SUV while she and their children, Aaliyah, 6, Laianah, 4, and Trey, 3, were inside.
Recommendations have been made for WA Police to take on board.Credit:Getty Images
A coroner found it was “unlikely” police officers, domestic violence service providers, friends or family could have stopped Baxter, but suggested a major funding injection and urgent overhaul of domestic violence training.
It was recommended the Queensland government urgently fund a five-day domestic violence training program for all specialist support police officers, and a year-long trial for a specialist domestic violence police station in areas with the most incidents in the state.
It was also suggested Queensland Police Force make annual training a mandatory module for all officers.
Hannah Clarke and her children – Aaliyah, 6, Laianah, 4, and Trey, 3.Credit:Small Steps 4 Hannah
On the back of the recommendations, WA Police Minister Paul Papalia said he had requested advice on whether WA Police met them, or if changes were needed.
A spokesman for Papalia said the Family and Domestic Violence Response Teams content and duration of training was now “being explored” in consultation with an external training provider with expertise in family violence.
“It is intended to balance an understanding of the dynamics of family violence behaviours with police specific operational needs,” he said.
“The WA Police Force recognises the importance of ensuring appropriate, consistent training for officers dealing with family violence, particularly those working in specialist family violence teams.
“This inquest, and other recent reports on family violence are being reviewed for their applicability to WA Police Force policy and practices.”
The spokesman said face-to-face training was already under way and not all recommendations from the Queensland inquest would apply to WA, where the Department of Communities was the lead agency for family violence, not police.
No further specific information about any changes or their timeframes has been provided.
WA Police have been in the spotlight recently for their handling of a domestic violence case back in 2013.
Tamica Mullaley was lying naked and bleeding on a Broome street after she was savagely beaten by her partner at the time, Mervyn Bell.
But when officers arrived to find her covered only in a sheet, she was arrested after lashing out at them.
It was the same night Bell sexually assaulted, tortured and murdered their 10-month-old son.
Despite the anguish of being so viciously assaulted and losing her son within the space of 48 hours, police brought charges against Mullaley.
Her father, Ted, was also charged on the night of the assault and later prosecuted and convicted.
She was pardoned and given an apology by WA Attorney-General John Quigley in June.
“Tamica and Ted deserved compassion,” Quigley said.
“Instead, the systems we thought we could rely on to support victims of crime failed and Tamica and Ted were dragged through the courts themselves.”
With AAP
Follow WAtoday on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter for handpicked selections of the day’s biggest local, national and international news.
Most Viewed in National
From our partners
Source: Read Full Article
