Domestic violence in SA: Thousands of women seeking protection

THOUSANDS of women are seeking protection from violent abusers each year, using tougher laws intended to crack down on domestic violence.

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THOUSANDS of women are seeking protection from violent abusers each year, using tougher laws intended to crack down on domestic violence.

Figures released to The Advertiser show the SA Magistrates Court has granted almost 3900 protection orders so far this financial year, as a growing number of victims seek to stop partners, or former partners, from assaulting, stalking or harassing them.

Police and crisis shelter workers say it is a sign that victims have more confidence in the system to protect them, following changes to laws and policies.

However, the number of breaches of protection orders reported each year is also growing, prompting a warning that violent abusers are still disrespecting women and ignoring court orders to stay away.

Figures released after a Freedom of Information request by The Advertiser show there have been 3892 intervention orders issued so far in 2014-15, as a result of applications made by police and victims.

Over the same period, there have been 2326 recorded breaches of orders, including for continuing to assault a victim, stalk them or damage their property. The figures are up from 2740 orders and 1520 breaches in 2012-13.

Victims, support groups and police attribute the surge to better awareness of domestic violence and growing confidence among victims that the system will respond to their cry for help.

SA Police Commissioner Gary Burns said officers were paying “more attention” to domestic violence incidents and “as a result, I think people are being more confident in reporting”.

“I think there’s been under-reporting — victims haven’t come forward and I think that the agencies have now improved their processes to make sure that they do report and do act on it,” he said.

“Everything we do should be aimed at ensuring people can live a life free of oppression from their partners or other people involved in that family relationship.”

State Government data shows the overwhelming majority of intervention orders are issued because of domestic abuse and about 90 per cent are issued against male defendants.

Multiple breaches can be recorded against the same intervention order.

About 300 perpetrators each year are breaching an order by failing to attend a court-ordered rehabilitation program.

Uniting Communities intensive support services group manager Daniel Moss said this showed a continuing attitude of disrespect among some men who did not take court-ordered rehabilitation seriously.

“There’s lots of work we need to do with men to make sure its not just a hoop that they’re jumping through to make sure they don’t go to jail, and then their behaviour doesn’t change,” he said.

Central Domestic Violence Service executive director Maria Hagias said police and court officials were “becoming more vigilant in responding to breaches and ensuring intervention is geared to protecting women and their children”.

Ms Hagias said it was important to monitor repeat offenders “to ensure appropriate action is taken against men who breach and continue to breach these orders”.

“We must ensure that women feel confident that the system does respond when a breach occurs and behaviours that place women and children at risk are immediately addressed,” she said.

Victim Support Service chief executive Julian Roffe said he had noticed a “cultural shift” which had improved responses to domestic violence.

“I would certainly say … there’s been a big shift with police patrols, on the ground, really taking this very seriously and we’re seeing that with the number of cases now coming through the courts,” Mr Roffe said.

Australian of the Year and anti-domestic violence campaigner Rosie Batty said progress had been made in helping victims but they needed more support to stand up for their legal rights.

“We seem to have a very strong focus through the court system on perpetrators and their rights,” she said.

“It is as damaging to you psychologically as the violence itself, the way that we currently navigate the court system.

“We really need to see an awful lot more support for the victims, with being able to get legal support … from a frontline service.”

The State Government introduced laws in late 2011 which made it easier for police to impose intervention orders to keep victims safe.

Earlier this month, The Advertiser revealed the Government had drafted legislation to further tighten laws to crack down on breaches of those orders and force offenders to pay for rehabilitation.

The Government has also promised a court assistance service to support victims.

Premier Jay Weatherill said there was now a process by which victims could “escalate” their case because “we’ve seen examples of information that hasn’t been taken seriously enough by the authorities and we’ve seen awful consequences”.

Opposition Deputy Leader Vickie Chapman said more emphasis was needed on enforcement of breaches once an order was in place.

“(Victims) have got to have the full effect of the law with them — that’s what people keep telling me,” she said.

For help, contact the Domestic Violence Crisis Service on 1300 782 200