Inspector Paul Binyon
Paul is currently head of the sexual crimes Squad. He has been in the Police Force for over twenty-seven years. Part of his early career was spent in Carlton as a Constable chasing hoons on a Saturday and Sunday night in Lygon Street and nearby areas. After eight years, he had just married his wife Kelly, originally from Mortlake and was in need of a change. With the two kids they wanted to move to Bendigo, however getting a posting was very difficult. They instead moved to Shepparton and enjoyed it very much. Paul was promoted to Sergeant and fortunately started the job on a Sunday, one day early and just after the Spring Car rally, only to find his morning’s work was bailing out fifty-five drunks. At the time he was mentored by Inspector Ian Bull and was pushed for promotion. The job challenges were maintaining staff vision and recruitment. The local Swan Hill Aboriginal community made up ten percent of the population, however were associated with, or were victims of, sixty percent of crimes. After five years Paul was made Senior Sergeant and the family now had four kids.
Paul then moved to Broadmeadows HQ, as it was time to get some city experience.
He was mentored by Ken Lay and described as a genuine person.
Four and a half years ago, Paul was promoted to the position of Inspector in charge of People, Performance and Development in The Crimes Department. After two years he was placed in charge of sex crimes and has received much satisfaction helping victims and prosecuting perpetrators. He is now head of the Department. Every year there are eight thousand sexual assaults, of which two and a half thousand are rapes. His department deals with the ten to fifteen percent of high-end offences attributed to strangers. Over eighty five percent of victims know their attacker, yet only one in seven report the offence. Paul sees a role in encouraging victims to come forward.
Over the last twelve months, the Department has tripled its capacity in online representation. Gone are the days where victims are groomed at the local Scout Hall. Ten thousand downloads of child pornography occur every day.
The department is now reviewing one thousand “Cold Cases with new DNA evidence. They have been successful in one hundred and fifty case reviews and one hundred suspects are currently being interviewed or charged. A task force is currently reviewing high-risk offenders who have somehow avoided being registered on a watch list.
A joint review with the department of Human Services is investigating young people at risk in institutional care, especially young girls who are being groomed for sex in return for money, alcohol and drugs.
With some mentoring over the next twelve months, Paul is hoping to move roles as a superintendent.