Nearly 10,000 SA men named on DV watchlist — including thousands with multiple victims

Almost 10,000 South Australian men are named on a watchlist of domestic violence abusers – including hundreds who have left three or more victims in their wake.

• ‘I thought my daughter is going to watch me die’

Almost 10,000 South Australian men are named on a watchlist of domestic violence abusers, including hundreds who have left three or more victims in their wake.

And growing numbers of perpetrators are repeatedly breaching court orders meant to protect their victims, including one who was charged up to 40 times.

The figures can be revealed exclusively by The Advertiser ahead of the launch of a royal commission into domestic, family and sexual violence on Monday.

They illustrate the danger posed by abusers who move from partner to partner repeating the same pattern of behaviour, and have prompted calls for investment in programs to change harmful attitudes.

Royal Commissioner Natasha Stott Despoja has told The Advertiser “all aspects of the existing system are on the table” in her inquiry, including the response to perpetrators.

Emma survived being strangled 3 times by her ex-husband, who was convicted of assault, choking and property damage. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

Survivor Emma, who was strangled by her then-husband, wants to give evidence about how she feels gaps in the system let her down.

The mother of three has shared her story in today’s SA Weekend magazine.

“I don’t think there are words to describe just how terrifying it was,” she said.

“It changes everything. We’re still here but there’s lifelong trauma.”

Data released under Freedom of Information laws show at least 1500 offenders each year are being found guilty of breaching conditions of an intervention order, which are used to prevent abusers from contacting, stalking or going near victims.

At least 480 each year have committed multiple breaches, including one person charged over as many as 40 incidents.

Embolden general manager Mary Leaker, who represents 23 frontline organisations, said “many women who experience violence are not in contact with police or specialist women’s safety services, and so many perpetrators of violence and abuse fly under the radar”.

Mary Leaker from Embolden in Adelaide said many perpetrators “fly under the radar”. Picture: Matt Loxton

Other data released to The Advertiser show 9961 names are now on a serial offender database compiled by frontline domestic violence services.

That has ballooned by almost 3700 names in the past three and a half years.

The watchlist includes 3000 alleged abusers linked to multiple victims, including 800 who have been named by three or more women.

Those listed may not have been charged or convicted of offences but many are subject to court orders or police reports.

Names on the list – which was set up in 2015 – are not made public, or given to police, but frontline workers use it to assess risks and develop safety plans.

Women’s Safety Services SA director of services Kat Cock said names were not removed from the database “which ensures that information about perpetrators with multiple victims is captured regardless of the time between victims”.

Both Ms Leaker and Ms Cock said breaches of intervention orders were frightening for victims and a red flag that the risk an abuser posed was escalating.

The state government recently allocated $700,000 to the Don’t Become That Man program which works to prevent or change men’s harmful attitudes and behaviours.

It is run by OARS Community Transitions.

CEO Leigh Garrett said almost 500 men went through the program in a year.

Mr Garrett said such programs helped men to recognise and change behaviours “so they don’t continue on that trajectory of escalating that violence or spreading that violence with other women”.

“If that behaviour gets entrenched it can be really hard to change,” he said.