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Rise seen in violence

Francis CurroComment News

DOMESTIC violence has been on the rise over the past few months in the South Metropolitan region.

But it is still not at its high point with police and the Department for Child Protection and Family Support predicting the number of domestic violence offences to hit its peak during the Christmas period.

The peak time for domestic assaults from July last year to October this year was in December and January with 323 and 350 offences recorded by police respectively.

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There has also been a rise in recent months with 850 recorded offences in August, September and October this year while last year there was 692 in the same period.

Department for Child Protection and Family Support director general Emma White said domestic violence needs a whole-of- government, whole-of-community approach to eradicate it. "The Christmas and New Year period is associated with an increase in the frequency and severity of violence perpetrated against women and children," she said.

�It is also a time when victims increasingly seek assistance from services. This often leads to an increase in the amount of family and domestic violence reported to the Western Australian Police.

"Governments and community service providers must work together to achieve safety for women and children and hold perpetrators accountable for their actions."

Child Protection Minister Helen Morton launched the Perth Stand Up event on White Ribbon Day to help stop the violence against women and get the message out.

Armadale officer-in-charge Senior Sergeant Mark Tobiassen said the station has had to deal with an increase in domestic violence in the past and his station would help support the response team on Christmas Day.

Member for the South Metropolitan Region Sue Ellery is collecting toys and non-perishables in the lead up to Christmas to donate to the women's and children's refuges " most of which are for domestic violence " in her electorate.

"These statistics are alarming and are a reflection of broader society where domestic violence has reached a horrifying scale with thousands of Western Australians affected by domestic violence every year," she said.

Donations can be delivered to Ms Ellery's office at Shop 20, Southlands Boulevard Shopping Centre, Willetton by December 18.