Victoria police could indefinitely ban alleged family violence perpetrators from their homes as the state government weighs bolstering officers' powers.
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The government is considering making family violence safety notices enduring, Police Minister Anthony Carbines said on Saturday.
The move could, in some circumstances, do away with a requirement for police to take the matter before a court within 14 days.
At those hearings, a magistrate decides whether to grant a police application to impose a family violence intervention order or dismiss the safety notice.
Victoria Police effectively wanted the power to give some offenders an intervention order on the spot, the government said.
Mr Carbines said the speed required with the current process could serve to re-traumatise victims.
Although, under the current system, victims are not required to take any part in the process.
Mr Carbines said the changes were about closing loopholes.
"Victoria Police have outlined how we could do that (and) it's on the table as a very serious consideration," he said.
"We need to consult with victims, we need to understand what they make of these changes, but it's pretty clear - given the (police's) massive volume of work around family violence that they do every day - that enduring family violence safety notices are a further protection that support our victims."
Under the current system, Victoria Police can issue family violence safety notices against alleged perpetrators to protect other people.
They can apply for the notices without family members' consent, and the notices can include conditions that alleged perpetrators stay out of their family homes until a magistrate orders otherwise.
The safety notices also act as a police application for a family violence intervention order, and as a court summons for alleged perpetrators.
Mr Carbines said any changes would be among further reforms to tackle family violence.
Victoria Police issue about 31 family violence safety notices every day, and there are about 17,500 breaches of notices or family violence intervention orders a year.
In terms of penalties, the minister said there were already serious consequences for breaching family violence safety notices, with offenders facing up to five-year jail terms.
The state government was also considering ankle monitors as part of family violence reforms.
Australian Associated Press
