Thousands arrested in police domestic violence blitz

Thousands of domestic violence charges have followed a police blitz on known offenders.

The blitz on some of Melbourne's most crime-affected areas ended in 2700 arrests and 7500 charges from January to June 2024.

"While more family reports may sound disheartening, we're encouraged that it means more people can access help and police have an opportunity to intervene and prevent further harm," Mornington Peninsula Inspector Terry Rowlands said.

"We also know the amount of proactive work that family violence detectives are undertaking each day, such as knocking on the doors of known perpetrators and victims, is identifying offending that would otherwise go undetected," he said.

Police targeted alleged offenders in Cardinia, Casey, Frankston, Greater Dandenong and the Mornington Peninsula.

Among the thousands of alleged family violence perpetrators charged was a 42-year-old man who allegedly stabbed a woman and assaulted a teenage child in the presence of two younger children.

An off-duty nurse came to the victim's aid and she was taken to hospital with life-threatening wounds.

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Police said she was discharged a week later with "life-changing" injuries.

The alleged offender was arrested at the scene and charged with a number of offences including intentionally and recklessly causing serious injury, common law assault, making threats to kill and contravening a family violence intervention order to cause harm or fear.

Victoria Police said in the year ending March 2024 almost 96,000 family violence reports were received. This was an increase of three per cent on the prior.

"While increases in family violence offending can partially be attributed to population growth, as well as more victim-survivors feeling confident enough to come forward, blitzes such as these also contribute to further reporting and greater identification of offending that generally occurs behind closed doors," police said.

If concerned about your own or someone else's behaviour support services are available.

No to Violence runs a Men's Referral Service which helps men who use violence to change their behaviour and could be contacted on 1300 766 491.

If you or someone close to you discloses they are a victim of family violence, please believe them and encourage them to contact the police or a support service.

Support is available 24 hours a day through Safe Steps by calling 1800 015 188 or emailing safesteps@safesteps.org.au

In an emergency call Triple Zero (000). If you can't get to a phone, ask someone else to do it for you.