Most Violent Day of the Year Uncovered in New Police Data
New police statistics reveal Christmas Day sees a spike in family violence incidents, highlighting a troubling trend during the festive season
Victoria, Family Violence, Christmas, Police, Lauren Callaway
Victoria: So, it turns out Christmas Day is one of the most violent days of the year. New police data shows a big jump in family violence incidents in Victoria.
Assistant Commissioner Lauren Callaway pointed out that while Christmas is meant for family fun, it can be a tough time for some. Sadly, some people use this time to control or hurt their loved ones.
According to the stats, family violence incidents go up by about 33% on Christmas Day. Last year, police reported 91 breaches of intervention orders and 79 assaults on that day alone.
In December 2023, there were a whopping 8,668 family violence incidents logged across the state. Callaway emphasized that this kind of behavior is totally unacceptable.
To tackle this, police will be out and about, making sure that those who might think they can get away with it know they won’t. They want to keep families safe during the holiday season.
There are also organizations like Safe Steps that offer help 24/7. They have a web chat service available from 9 AM to midnight, so people can reach out for support.
Callaway mentioned that if anyone feels their actions might be putting their family at risk, there are services available to help them change. She suggested that making that call could be the best gift for their family this Christmas.