Focus on training

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Domestic violence is becoming more and more of an issue - the police are also raising awareness in this area.(Bild: Malena Brenek)

Protection against violence is increasingly becoming a sensitive challenge for law enforcement agencies. For this reason, the police in the vast country are focusing on comprehensive training in cooperation with the Violence Protection Center, where the victims' perspective is also important.

Every act of violence is one too many. As the population becomes more aware of domestic violence, the number of reports also increases. The motto is to look instead of looking away. The recently presented crime statistics for 2023 make one thing clear: with around 11,300 reports and an increase of 14.4 percent, the number of violent crimes such as murder, robbery, assault and rape has reached an all-time high in the past ten years.

On a flying visit to Traiskirchen: Edtstadler and Karner focused on protection against violence during their visit to the police academy.(Bild: Reinhard Judt )

This makes it all the more important to focus on the protection against violence in the police force as well. During a visit by Interior Minister Gerhard Karner and Constitutional Minister Karoline Edtstadler to the training center in Traiskirchen, the impact of the local showcase model was highlighted.

The basic police training in Lower Austria not only scores points with its interdisciplinary approach to the subject matter. It also offers modular training with 24 teaching units together with the Violence Protection Center.

"Protection against violence is one of the most sensitive challenges in police work. The close cooperation with the violence protection centers as part of the training is a decisive factor in being able to fully understand the victims' perspective and the reasons for violence," Karner explained to the police students. In Traiskirchen, 280 of a total of 455 new officers are currently attending police training.