FOR the first time, video statements to local police by alleged victims of domestic assaults made at the time and location of incidents will be used in court to prosecute charges.
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A total of seven charges have been laid relating to three separate occasions, two in Queanbeyan, where video statements have been made at the scene.
A 35-year-old Queanbeyan man charged with reckless wounding, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and breaching an apprehended violence order will appear before Queanbeyan Local Court on August 8.
A 49-year-old Queanbeyan man charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and breaching an apprehended violence order will front court on September 29.
"New evidence gathering laws relating to domestic and family violence have been operating since June 1," Monaro Local Area commander, Superintendent Rod Smith said.
"Video statements by consenting alleged victims at the location when an assault occurs can now be introduced to court as evidence-in-chief, if charges are then laid."
Superintendent Smith is also NSW Southern Region sponsor for domestic and family violence, overseeing 11 commands on such matters.
He and his senior colleagues in those commands have high expectations the new Domestic Violence Evidence in Chief (DVEC) cameras will be breakthrough technology that contributes to causing a downward trend in assaults. However they know any genuinely successful, accurate statistical data may not be reflected inside 12 months.
They hope victims will become increasingly confident they can limit repeat attacks by seeking protection via video statements. They also hope videos will minimise victims reliving the trauma by repeating evidence in court, increase reporting of family and domestic violence, lead to more successful prosecutions, and cut down processing costs and time for all parties.
More than 30 out of 113 police in the Monaro LAC have so far been trained to record video statements.
Another 30 police were to undergo training yesterday at Queanbeyan including more Monaro officers and others from Goulburn and Far South Coast LACs.
"We are throwing them in wherever we can when the chance comes up because it's hard to interrupt daily police business to train large groups at once," Superintendent Smith said.
The third of the three videoed incidents occurred at Parkes in the Lachlan Area Command.
A 30-year-old man charged with breaching an apprehended violence order and with intimidation will appear before Parkes Local Court next week.
