From June 1, new laws enable NSW police to introduce video statements recorded at the times and locations of assaults into court as evidence-in-chief.

“This will be a great tool that will save lives,” said Lake Illawarra local area commander, Superintendent Wayne Starling. 

Far South Coast police have recorded 17 statements, Lake Illawarra five and Shoalhaven two. 

Recent police figures reveal Lake Illawarra and Shoalhaven are two of the three commands in NSW with the highest callout rates for family and domestic violence incidents.

While this does not equate to total charges laid, it underlines the urgency to train officers to use the new digital video cameras, handed out recently to police stations.

A majority of 300 staff from the three local area commands (LACs) are ahead of schedule in training to make recordings with consenting victims.

Senior police particularly hope victims will become increasingly confident they can protect themselves and limit repeat attacks by going on the record at the time.

They have high expectations but know any trend may not be reflected inside 12 months.

Video on location will later enable courts to see the immediate aftermath and trauma of domestic violence.

Crime manager for Shoalhaven Detective Inspector Mark Robinson said video “will show the victim’s demeanour at the time and not weeks or months on”.

“Offenders should be mindful that evidence-in-chief from video will [also] reflect visible injuries and how upset the [victim] is.”

Superintendent Starling said prior to the change of law “between the time of the offence and the time it goes to court, many offenders either threaten, intimidate or manipulate victims, resulting in matters not proceeding to court and the offences continuing”.

“Offenders isolate victims and have victims wrongfully blaming themselves.”

Or both parties think they have patched things up or will be able to.

“A contemporaneous electronic account of what happened is not only fair for the victim but also the suspect,” Superintendent Starling said.

Alleged offenders are not required to make video statements and police will be required to advise them of their rights as usual.

Police also hope video will minimise victims reliving the trauma by repeating evidence in court, increase reporting of family and domestic violence, deter repeat offenders, lead to more successful prosecutions, and cut down processing costs and time for all parties.

The new Domestic Violence Evidence in Chief (DVEC) digital cameras have been progressively commissioned as police are assessed competent in training, resulting in the two dozen victim statements recorded so far.

In the transition there is still a mix of notebooks on location then paperwork back at the station.

Lake Illawarra’s training will wrap up by December, Far South Coast LAC aims for the same completion date, Shoalhaven’s schedule was initially slotted from August to next May.