The Queensland Police Service has confirmed plans to disband its specialist Domestic and Family Violence and Vulnerable Persons Command 'operational support unit', redeploying officers to local districts in a significant organisational restructuring.
Frontline Workers Express Safety Concerns
Frontline domestic violence workers have raised serious concerns about the decision, warning that dismantling this specialist unit could place women at greater risk, particularly in regional and remote areas. Workers who contacted media outlets described the unit as "invaluable" to the sector, highlighting its critical role in information sharing between agencies and ensuring safe, timely responses to domestic violence concerns.
"Why would QPS reduce such an important DFV resource, in the current climate of community anger at escalating rates of DFV and resulting community harm?" one frontline worker questioned, reflecting widespread apprehension within the support sector.
Review Findings Prompt Restructure
The decision follows a 100-day review that reportedly included comments suggesting domestic violence case management was not "core" police business. The review also found that the "perceived primacy" of family violence meant it consumed a substantial portion of police workload.
Queensland Police Service officials state the changes represent part of a broader organisational reform process designed to create "a more responsive policing organisation." According to their statement, the realignment aims to "enhance both the strategic and operational response to domestic and family violence by ensuring resources and expertise are positioned where they can have the greatest impact."
Historical Context of Policing Failures
This decision comes against a backdrop of documented policing failures in domestic violence cases. Last year's 'Broken Trust' investigative series highlighted systemic issues within Queensland Police responses to domestic violence, revealing concerning patterns of institutional failure.
The 2022 inquiry into cultural issues within the Queensland Police Service found that attitudes of misogyny, sexism, and racism were "largely unchecked" within the service. The inquiry concluded it was "hardly surprising" that these same attitudes were reflected in how officers responded to victim survivors of domestic violence.
Implementation of Previous Recommendations
Queensland Police point to reforms implemented since the 2022 inquiry, stating that process improvements have "addressed many of the issues that previously required centralised oversight." However, several recommendations from that inquiry remain unimplemented and overdue, including the establishment of a civilian-led police integrity unit.
The police service describes the 100-day review as an "evidence based roadmap" to strengthen frontline capabilities. They confirm that positions within the broader DFV and Vulnerable Persons Command will be redistributed to frontline commands as part of this restructuring.
As this organisational change unfolds, domestic violence support services continue to express apprehension about potential impacts on victim safety and service coordination across Queensland.
