Quick hit: Family violence reporting and recording up

From the Herald this morning:

Police statistics released today showed reported violence crime rose 7 per cent, on top of an increase last year of 11.1 per cent, driven almost entirely by increased recording and reporting of family violence.

The increase in reported family violence increased 13.5 per cent on top of a 28.8 per cent increase the previous year.

Police responded to 82,692 incidents and offences relating to family violence and 23 murders were classified as family violence murders.

Families Commission chief commissioner Jan Pryor said the rise was to be expected because more people were reporting incidents and society was becoming less tolerant of violence.

..."The existing level of family violence did not occur overnight and the increased reporting is a testament to the lower acceptance of violence in our society."

...Dr Pryor said the reasons for violence were varied -- including income, power and societal support.

"We know that the formative years of a child's development significantly impacts on how children handle conflict as adults."

Research made it clear that deprivation was a significant cause of family violence.

"Encouragement and support for families such as paid parental leave will go a long way toward reducing the consequences of family dysfunction, including family violence."

Click through for the whole thing.

At a time of rising unemployment it seems unlikely deprivation with decrease, sadly.