According to ACT Policing, domestic violence reports have dipped in Canberra over the last financial year.

Domestic violence incidents are down by more than 400 incidents from the previous year in which officers were called out to 2,591 reported incidents.

In a recent interview with the ABC, Sergeant Dave Williams from the Family Violence Coordination Unit said although the figures appeared to show a downward trend, they were still too high.

“Just one incidence of family violence is too many,” he said. “As first responders to family violence… we see the effect that it has on families.”

Sergeant Williams explained further to the ABC, that on Christmas Day police attended 14 incidents of family violence, and on Boxing Day they were called to a further 10.  

“Putting that in perspective, that’s in line with our daily average of 12 daily attended by ACT Policing,” he said. “With the national campaign against domestic violence going at the moment we’re expecting that more people are open and feel more comfortable contacting police – which we think is fantastic,” Sargeant Williams confirmed.

Canberra received a specialist domestic violence unit which offers legal assistance to women in need after it was identified earlier this year as one of the highest places for domestic violence around Australia.

Should this article raise any issues for you or someone you know, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.

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