TENS of thousands of dollars will be pumped into the Stawell Magistrates’ Court to ensure safety and security standards for dealing with family violence cases are on par with major court houses.
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The state government has announced a $30,000 overhaul at the 138-year-old courthouse, sparked by recommendations from Victoria’s landmark Royal Commission into Family Violence. The upgrade is part of a $58.1-million state-wide court package aimed at curbing soaring rates of family violence across the Grampians region and protecting victims seeking justice through the court system.
The aim of the project is to enhance the safety of public spaces inside the courthouse with an influx of dedicated security officers patrolling.
As part of the funding injection, security officers will operate handheld scanning wands and officers will also escort vulnerable people and victims of family violence. The court’s registry area will also be upgraded to ensure staff safety.
Women’s Health Grampians Chief executive Marianne Hendron lauded the move. She said victims of family violence seeking support from the justice system in rural areas deserved the same protection as those in metropolitan areas.
“The Stawell Magistrates’ Court has been notoriously poorly resourced for family violence cases,” Ms Hendron said. “The safety of women who are seeking help from the justice system must be paramount so this is a very welcomed initiative.”
However, Ms Hendron said there was still a long way to go.
“There is an urgent need not just to improve the safety inside the court but also give women more access to a whole range of services like housing and transport, which are really important for women fleeing from violent relationships,” Ms Hendron said.
The works will mirror other upgrades at rural courts in Ararat and Horsham.
Attorney General Martin Pakula said the upgrades would ensure those attending court for family violence reasons felt safe.
“It is crucial that when vulnerable people, especially those caught up in family violence, attend court they can do so in a safe manner, free from threat or intimidation,” he said.
Member for Western Victoria Jaala Pulford said the works would be completed by mid-2018.
“Family violence is alarmingly higher in some regional and rural areas, and we know that women in regional Victoria are more likely to experience family violence,” Ms Pulford said.
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