KEY POINTS:
Before North Shore mother-of-six Cheryl Pareanga was killed by her partner three years ago, three different agencies had been trying to help her.
But each was working independently and it was later found that if they had been sharing their information more effectively Mrs Pareanga might not have died.
Determined not to repeat the same mistake, North Shore police - who were then dealing with around 3000 cases of family violence a year - decided to change the way they handled domestic tensions.
Three years on, that new approach is not only working, it's been highly commended in the Community Safety and Prevention Awards.
The "Takapuna" model is based on inter-agency co-operation, more comprehensive information gathering and working more closely with both the victims and offenders.
Combating the district's family violence is now handled by a unit that includes two investigators and a co-ordinator and is overseen by Sergeant Caroline Anderson.
Sharing the same office is a representative from both Women's Refuge and Child, Youth and Family.
"It cuts down on the overlapping and doubling up of information about offenders and their victims," said Mrs Anderson. "We also have a common knowledge of what's going on with our high-profile families."
Unit members work together prioritising violence cases to ensure no one slips through the cracks.
Whenever a family violence case is reported, an Investigation Report - designed following Ms Pareanga's murder - is compiled. The report records details of the alleged offence and has a risk assessment and "red flags" section, which help police identify high-risk cases.
Along with the report, any family who come to the attention of police more than twice are automatically added to the "priority list", which means the offenders are targeted, while the victims are offered support and advice. That help might be in the form of monitored alarms or pendants, which can be worn around the neck, or help with escape plans.
For the offender, targeting comes in the form of close monitoring and regular house visits and phone calls.
If they have previous driving offences or are known to be disqualified, traffic police will keep a close eye on them, stopping them for checks.
If the person is on probation they will be regularly visited and given no lenience if they breach bail conditions.
And if the pressure seems too intense or feels like harassment, Mrs Anderson makes no apologies because it seems to work.
"We know their history, they know they can't get away with stuff because we know their history. The offenders know now that if they do any minor thing we are going to be stepping on them ... That pressure is stopping them from reoffending."
While the new model hasn't eradicated family violence - North Shore still handles about 150 cases a month - Mrs Anderson believes it is making a difference.
There has not been a homicide related to family violence on the North Shore since the model was introduced and only one child has had to be removed from a mother's care.
Repeat offending has reduced, while incident reporting rates are increasing.
"I think we have got more of a handle on the problem," Mrs Anderson said.
