29-04-2025
AUDIO: Victim questions Victoria Police's family violence unit's response
Sabra Lane: The ABC's obtained new documents showing a disparity between cases of Victorian police officers accused of family violence and criminal defendants in the general community. Victoria Police has a special team dedicated to investigating serious cases of sexual and family violence by serving officers. Anti-abuse advocates say there are now serious questions about the unit. A warning, the story details allegations of sexual and family violence. Kimberley Price reports.
Kimberley Price : When Kate, that's not her real name, was 17, she alleges her boyfriend's father started making sexual advances, initially with forced hugs. A voice actor is being used.
Kate: Like, my hands are just down to my side and he would just make me do it again.
Kimberley Price : Kate didn't want to hug her boyfriend's dad, who was a Victoria Police officer, but she says he insisted.
Kate: Well, I felt really uncomfortable, but we never, like, spoke about it, like ever.
Kimberley Price : Kate told her mum Claire, also not her real name, what was happening. Kate also revealed instances where the police officer would allegedly tell her to sleep in the same bed with him and touched her inappropriately. Claire was shocked.
Claire: That night I couldn't even sleep. I'm thinking, who do I tell about this? I literally have no idea. I honestly didn't have a clue what to do and so I googled.
Kimberley Price : Claire came across SOFU, Victoria Police's Sexual Offences and Family Violence Unit, which is tasked with investigating allegations of serious and complex sexual and family violence against Victoria Police employees. So she approached a SOFU police officer.
Claire: He says, you know, you don't live there, so you can choose never to go back to their house again. So the fact that he just took our phone call, gave us ridiculous advice, didn't do any investigation, didn't do any follow-up calls. What's the whole point of this department? And I did think, you know, if it was a different independent body who'd run this department, I really think that it would have been done a full investigation.
Kimberley Price : Through a separate Victoria Police investigation, the police officer was charged with two counts of intentionally touching. The Office of Public Prosecutions later recommended the charges not proceed, and they didn't. While advocates note some positive interactions with the Special Investigations Unit, SOFU, documents obtained by the ABC under Freedom of Information show, statistically, Victoria Police officers charged with family violence are more likely to have their matters withdrawn compared to defendants in the community. It also shows Victorian police officers are less likely to be found guilty. Lauren Caulfield is a coordinator of the Beyond Survival Policing Family Violence Project.
Lauren Caulfield : We know that police officers remain significantly less likely to have any charges against them actually prosecuted in court, and vastly more likely to avoid conviction.
Kimberley Price : SOFU's Detective Superintendent Sharon Congreve said in a statement, the figures actually show Victoria Police is relentless in pursuing those employees who choose to perpetrate family violence. Detective Congreve also says Kate's case was fully investigated, and SOFU is focused on providing a victim-centric response.
Sabra Lane: Kimberley Price and Hayley Gleeson reporting, and if you or anyone you know needs help, you can call 1800RESPECT, that's 1800 737 732. If it's an emergency, call 000.
