Hawke's Bay police try new initiative in bid to fix woeful family harm statistics

Hawke's Bay police Senior Sergeant Greg Brown is working on reducing the family harm incidents in Hawke's Bay, one at a time. Photo / Paul Taylor

Hawke's Bay police are trialling a new style of Police Safety Order test (PSO) in response to the region's grim family harm statistics.

According to Hawke's Bay police, the region in 2019 continues to have the highest rate of family harm incidents per 10,000 population in New Zealand.

Police are still attending an average of 20 family harm incidents a day.

Hawke's Bay police Senior Sergeant Greg Brown says it's a "very high number" and as a result the region's family harm team has initiated a test for those given a PSO, which puts the spotlight on the perpetrator/aggressor.

At this stage the test is voluntary because a law change that makes it mandatory won't come into effect until July, but about 10 of the 140 people given a PSO in Hawke's Bay since February have agreed to take it, he said.

The purpose of a PSO is to protect at-risk people from violence, harassment or intimidation and give a victim of abuse time to get support or a protection order.

It is issued when the police have reasonable grounds to believe that family violence has occurred or may occur.

When the law changes a PSO will last for up to 10 days, double the current five, and police will be able to mandate programmes where the perpetrator will have to make contact with agencies to change their behaviour.

Brown said the test was about working with the families and collaborating with different agencies such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Problem Gambling to provide help and working on people being safe.

After the aggressor agrees to the test, social workers and other support people go out and talk to them about what is required to help that person make change.

Brown says the problem in Hawke's Bay is inter-generational, and largely male dominated.

He said the problem in high-risk families would not disappear overnight, but initiative needs to be taken to engage and earn trust.

"If we change the behaviour of one person it is worth it. We want people to be safe, reach out to us."