That said, there is no doubt that on SS evidence, taken together with that Watterson’s of Sergeant Smith, the situation regarding the police prosecution service in Port Adelaide was completely unsatisfactory in 2009/2010. On that evidence there was simply no way that the important work of preparing matters for trial and presenting matters before the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court could be adequately or appropriately carried out. There was some evidence to suggest that the situation has improved since that time. Nevertheless, I have no confidence that the situation today is substantially better than it was in 2009/2010. Evidence from Maria Hagias, Executive Director, Central Domestic Violence Service Maria Hagias is the Executive Director of the Central Domestic Violence Service. She has extensive experience in the provision of domestic violence support. The Central Domestic Violence Service provides support and accommodation to women experiencing domestic violence and their services include case management, crisis response and programs to support women and children. They also participate in family safety meetings and they offer support to women in 91 accommodation options. I regard Ms Hagias as an expert in the field of domestic violence and have treated her evidence accordingly. Ms Hagias gave evidence that even in 2014 when women present to the front counter of a police station there are still inconsistencies of approach from police officer to police officer and police station to police station. Ms Hagias gave the example of a recent case where a woman presented at a police station requesting assistance in obtaining an intervention order and was told that she needed to have evidence of three different episodes of domestic violence before she could proceed. That is clearly wrong information. Ms Hagias said that episodes of that kind are not uncommon, even today. Ms Hagias said that the reforms conducted in the area of domestic violence in the past several years, of which the Family Safety Framework is a feature, were intended to create a structural change in agencies, including SAPOL. One of the primary goals was to ensure that regardless of where a woman presented for assistance, she would
That said, there is no doubt that on SS Watterson’s evidence, taken together with that of Sergeant Smith, the situation regarding the police prosecution service in Port Adelaide was completely unsatisfactory in 2009/2010. On that evidence there was simply no way that the important work of preparing matters for trial and presenting matters before the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court could be adequately or appropriately carried out. There was some evidence to suggest that the situation has improved since that time. Nevertheless, I have no confidence that the situation today is substantially better than it was in 2009/2010. Evidence from Maria Hagias, Executive Director, Central Domestic Violence Service Maria Hagias is the Executive Director of the Central Domestic Violence Service. She has extensive experience in the provision of domestic violence support. The Central Domestic Violence Service provides support and accommodation to women experiencing domestic violence and their services include case management, crisis response and programs to support women and children. They also participate in family safety meetings and they offer support to women in 91 accommodation options. I regard Ms Hagias as an expert in the field of domestic violence and have treated her evidence accordingly. Ms Hagias gave evidence that even in 2014 when women present to the front counter of a police station there are still inconsistencies of approach from police officer to police officer and police station to police station. Ms Hagias gave the example of a recent case where a woman presented at a police station requesting assistance in obtaining an intervention order and was told that she needed to have evidence of three different episodes of domestic violence before she could proceed. That is clearly wrong information. Ms Hagias said that episodes of that kind are not uncommon, even today. Ms Hagias said that the reforms conducted in the area of domestic violence in the past several years, of which the Family Safety Framework is a feature, were intended to create a structural change in agencies, including SAPOL. One of the primary goals was to ensure that regardless of where a woman presented for assistance, she would