Leading Senior Sergeant Peter De Sair and Senior Constable Melissa Mitchell from the Endeavour Hills police station promote White Ribbon Day in an effort to reduce violence against women. 24987
By Kelly Yates
MORE than 9000 members of the Victoria Police joined forces this week to wear wristbands and ribbons to support White Ribbon Day.
Tuesday’s event is an international campaign led by men to reduce violence against women.
Family violence advisor Acting Sergeant Sarah Blackmore from the Endeavour Hills Police Station said family violence was unacceptable.
“It’s important that if someone becomes a victim of family violence, they contact police or seek help from the services available,” she said.
In Victoria, nearly 25 per cent of all assaults police attend are family violence related, and in Australia, family violence affects one in three women during their lifetime.
Police attended more than 31,000 family violence incidents during the last financial year.
White Ribbon Day ambassador Deputy Commissioner Simon Overland said wearing a wrist band or ribbon symbolised that people would not condone, commit or stay silent about violence against women.
“When police take action at family violence incidents, we demonstrate that violence against women and children is unacceptable and will not be tolerated in our community at any time,” he said.
