POLICE will symbolically come together as one in a bid to combat the scourge of domestic violence this month.
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Officers met on Thursday to finalise plans for a walk to coincide with White Ribbon Day.
As part of the event, police and members of the public from both states will walk to the Porta sculpture on the Lincoln Causeway.
The message, according to Wodonga Sergeant Tony Chamberlain, is simple.
“There are no borders in regards to domestic violence,” he said.
“Domestic violence offenders will travel either side of the Border.
“This is about both the Victorian and NSW communities coming together to say that enough is enough and domestic violence won’t be tolerated.
“Unless the community gets behind us and says we need to change, the behaviour will continue.
“It’s no longer acceptable.”
Sergeant Chamberlain said it would be the first time Albury and Wodonga would host a joint event for White Ribbon Day.
The national White Ribbon campaign started in 2003 and aims to end male violence against women.
Albury Senior Constable Alicia Langman said state lines could be a barrier to accessing services and enforcing domestic violence orders.
But she said that could be addressed by victims registering orders in both states.
“We have people who live in Albury and work in Victoria and visa versa,” she said.
“There may be one person living in one state and another living in another state.
“The orders are restricted to the state they’re taken out in, but that’s not to say they can’t be registered in the other state.”
Police are increasingly working together to combat domestic violence.
Sergeant Chamberlain encouraged members of the public to take part in the walk, which will start at St Ives on the Lincoln Causeway and at the former information centre on Wodonga Place in Albury.
“The community can play a major role,” he said.
“They can report domestic violence to the police and support their friends and relatives.
“There will be people who know those who are the victims of domestic violence, as well the perpetrators.
"We want the community to really get behind this.”
The event will start at 10.30am on November 25.
