❓ Question regarding WA Police's victim-survivor notification processes in domestic violence cases, particularly in comparison to the NSW DV Notify program. The answer outlines current processes and a meeting held to discuss improvements.
AnsweredQoN 906Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the adoption of the DV Notify program being trialled in New South Wales that informs domestic and family violence victim-survivors of a perpetrator's custody status, and recent comments from the Centre for Women's Safety and Wellbeing for Western Australia (WA) that WA's current systems can result in "incorrect updates or no updates at all", and I ask: (a) what are the current victim-survivor notification processes used by WA police when an alleged perpetrator is: (i) taken into custody; (ii) released on bail; (iii) subject to protective bail conditions; and (iv) released from custody; (b) what are the current data sharing or technical restraints that prevent WA Police from providing real time automated notifications to victim survivors; (c) has WA Police consulted with or provided advice to the Office for prevention of Family and Domestic Violence for adopting a similar program to DV Notify; and (d) if yes to (c), please table that correspondence?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
24 February 2026
Responded by
Minister for the Environment representing the Minister for Police
Response time
11 days
(a)
(i-iv) The WA Police Force is responsible for investigating offences, arresting and charging perpetrators (where appropriate) and considering whether a perpetrator should be granted or refused bail (and on what terms) prior to appearing in court. If the perpetrator is released from police custody the investigating officer has the responsibility, in conjunction with the WA Police Force Family Violence Teams, to notify the victim-survivor of any updates. The WA Police Force recommends that victim-survivors sign up to the Victim Notification Register, the confidential service provided by the Office of the Commissioner for Victims of Crime.
(b) There are no data sharing and/or technical constraints related to notifying a victim-survivor regarding Police related updates to their reported crime.
(c - d) On Thursday, 23 October 2025 there was a meeting between:
· WA Police - Assistant Commissioner, Operations Support
· Department of Communities - Manager, Office for Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence
· Department of Justice - Deputy Commissioner, Adult Community Corrections
· Department of Justice - Assistant Commissioner, Adult Community Corrections
The discussion focused on ways to improve processes for advising a family and domestic violence victim survivor of an accused person’s custody status and not specifically related to the DV Notify trial in New South Wales.
(i-iv) The WA Police Force is responsible for investigating offences, arresting and charging perpetrators (where appropriate) and considering whether a perpetrator should be granted or refused bail (and on what terms) prior to appearing in court. If the perpetrator is released from police custody the investigating officer has the responsibility, in conjunction with the WA Police Force Family Violence Teams, to notify the victim-survivor of any updates. The WA Police Force recommends that victim-survivors sign up to the Victim Notification Register, the confidential service provided by the Office of the Commissioner for Victims of Crime.
(b) There are no data sharing and/or technical constraints related to notifying a victim-survivor regarding Police related updates to their reported crime.
(c - d) On Thursday, 23 October 2025 there was a meeting between:
· WA Police - Assistant Commissioner, Operations Support
· Department of Communities - Manager, Office for Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence
· Department of Justice - Deputy Commissioner, Adult Community Corrections
· Department of Justice - Assistant Commissioner, Adult Community Corrections
The discussion focused on ways to improve processes for advising a family and domestic violence victim survivor of an accused person’s custody status and not specifically related to the DV Notify trial in New South Wales.
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