Domestic Violence Liaison Officers

In Queensland, police officers may work as a regional, district or station Domestic Violence Liaison Officer, (DVLO).

Each of these roles has separate functions.

However, all DVLOs work together in order to improve the Queensland Police Service’s approach to domestic and family violence.

Regional Domestic Violence Liaison Officers

Regional Domestic Violence Liaison Officers are not substantive/formalised positions.

The Officer-in-Charge of a Queensland Police Service region or command may appoint a police officer to coordinate domestic violence issues and activities within the region or command, if the Officer-in-Charge believes such appointment would improve police efficiency and effectiveness, and provide a better service to the community.

District Domestic Violence Liaison Officers

The District Officer-in-Charge appoints Domestic Violence Liaison Officers within their district and allocates adequate time and resources to these police officers to enable them to carry out their stated functions.

The functions and duties of District Domestic Violence Liaison Officers include:

• coordinating policing strategies and monitoring their efficiency better
• providing direction, guidance and advice to Queensland Police Service staff and the community on issues associated with domestic violence
• liaising with community and other government agencies to develop referral networks and preventative strategies
• assisting regional and district education and training coordinators to develop and conduct education and training programs that relate to legislation, policy, orders and procedures and social understanding in dealing with domestic and family violence
• liaising with police prosecutors and magistrates to ensure consistent and appropriate standards and responses are maintained in dealing with the legal issues of domestic and family violence
• liaising with the Domestic and Family Violence Unit, in relation to strategies to deal with domestic and family violence
• reporting quarterly on their functions as a Domestic Violence Liaison Officer to the District Officer, and
• ensuring in their absence from the police station that another suitable police officer performs their functions and duties as a domestic violence liaison officer on a temporary basis.

Station Domestic Violence Liaison Officers

The Officer-in-Charge of a station is, by virtue of that position, the Domestic Violence Liaison Officer for that station.

The Officer-in-Charge may delegate the responsibility of Domestic Violence Liaison Officer to another officer within the station.

The functions of the station domestic violence liaison officer should include:

• monitoring the effective policing of domestic violence within their area
• assisting members of the community in direction and advice on domestic violence matters
• assisting the Officer in Charge to ensure domestic violence occurrences are correctly entered onto QPRIME
• establishing effective communications and relationships with groups and organisations and promoting domestic violence prevention and support strategies
• assisting the regional and district domestic violence liaison officers with the formulation and implementation of reactive, proactive and preventative strategies
• ensuring when they are on leave or are transferred, that their Officer-in-Charge is notified so relief can be appointed.

A station Domestic Violence Liaison Officer can be contacted by calling ANY police station and asking to speak with the DVLO.

Even though any general duties police officer may attend a domestic or family violence incident, the station DVLO can be contacted if a member of the public has concerns or questions.

Although Regional and District DVLOs may at times have contact with members of the public who have experienced domestic or family violence, their role is predominantly to oversee the domestic and family violence in their region or district.