East Gippsland is tackling a family violence epidemic.
Crime Statistics Agency data indicates that reporting of family violence has increased in East Gippsland over the past 12 months and it is a trend Bairnsdale Police say will continue to increase due to the current cost of living crisis. 
"Drug and alcohol use, recent separation, mental health and recent childbirth are also some of the factors contributing to this increase," Sergeant Prad Pai, Family Violence Liaison Officer, said.
East Gippsland recorded 1783 family violence incidents during 2023, 1332 against females and 441 against men. Per population of 100,000, East Gippsland topped the state ahead of other regional Local Government Areas (LGA) including Mildura, Latrobe, Horsham and Ararat. A much smaller percentage was recorded in metropolitan LGAs.
The vast majority of reported incidents in East Gippsland during 2022/23 fall under the verbal (39.3 per cent) and emotional (32.2 per cent) abuse. Of the reported incidents in the region, 941 were breaches of family violence orders.

IMAGE: Sergeant Prad Pai, Family Violence Liaison Officer, Detective Sergeant Owen Smeal, Family Violence Investigation Unit, of Bairnsdale Police, are urging the community to take the right steps to report and stop family violence.