Awareness on family act

POLICE in Northern are carrying out awareness to help people understand the Family Protection Act, the seriousness of domestic violence as a criminal act and protection in place for survivors.
According to the Australian High Commission, since 2012, more than 1,000 people had accessed the service which resulted in the courts issuing more than 300 interim protection orders to women reported facing persistent domestic violence.
Sgt Betty Kanari, a police officer of 29 years and officer-in-charge of the Popondetta family and sexual violence (FSV) unit, says it has been challenge getting people to accept that wife or partner abuse isn’t a “normal” part of marriage or intimate relationships.
Sgt Kanari said with the combined efforts of the courts, the hospital, counselling services and churches to eliminate FSV, it was encouraging to see a growing number of women, couples and young adults now understanding the law and were seeking police help to address family conflict.
“Most men now realise how effective the Family Protection Act is and they are now scared of the interim protection orders (IPOs),” she said.
“Once an IPO is issued, men must stay for 30 days away from children and wives and must not breach that order.
“When they breach the order, we have them arrested and taken to court where they are asked to pay a fine or they are sentenced to jail,” Sgt Kanari said.
Their work was continuing even during the state of emergency, although the team has modified their operating procedures to include maintaining proper hygiene, regular hand-washing and social distancing.
Efforts to strengthen police work to eliminate family and sexual violence, including specialised and sensitised training for officers to deal with emotional clients, were supported by the PNG-Australia partnership programme.