VICTIM BLAMING BY MALE QPS MEMBER FROM THE GAP POLICE STATION (4061)
Upon reporting a domestic violence offence to a male officer from The Gap Police Station (4061), I was told the incident was my fault as he accused me of doing nothing and letting it happen, making it look like what happened was my fault, even though it was an act of domestic violence that I was not responsible for.
This same officer later advised me that they (police) would not support me with a protection order and informed me I would have to pursue that myself.
He also failed to follow up on the incident initially and when I made contact with him by phone, he advised me my complaint had been closed, and when I asked why, he quickly became aggressive, disrespectful, abusive, intimidating, and threatening towards me.
He wouldn't let me speak and he spoke over me, he told ME to be respectful to HIM, he threatened to hang up on me if I didn't comply with his demands, he blamed me for the incident that I had reported earlier, then he made false and misleading statements to me about information I had reported to him about the domestic violence incident.
When I tried to tell him his account wasn't accurate, he became overly aggressive and his demeanour completely changed, leaving me feeling fearful of continuing the conversation any further.
As I was hesitantly and very cautiously attempting to seek a reasonable explanation and understanding from him into what happened with my report, the call suddenly disconnected. When I tried to call back, nobody answered after several attempts.
This male officer made me feel intimidated, threatened, scared, uncomfortable, and anxious. The way this officer treated me also made me feel unsupported, alone, and extremely vulnerable when he informed me that police would no longer support me, my domestic violence application, or any further reports of family violence.
My experiences with domestic violence involved in part, years long severe psychological and emotional abuse where I was blamed for everything, and this officer's actions, attitude, and behaviour that he exhibited towards me as a victim of domestic violence, was similar in nature to the type of violence I had experienced, as it was victim-blaming, controlling, and emotionally abusive behaviour, that was traumatising and re-triggering for me.
This officer's attitudes and behaviours were prime examples of misogyny and toxic masculinity, and I don't believe he would have treated a male community member in a similar manner, which also shows gender discrimination.
This officer's actions have led me to feel and believe that I can no longer trust in the police to help or support me with any matter, now, or in the future, and that realisation scares me, and it's all due to the appalling actions, attitude, and behaviour, of this one male police officer. read more
