Police Commander addresses NT’s ‘epidemic’ of domestic violence

The Territory’s weekend of crime carnage is a sign of the “ingrained domestic violence in our community,” a senior officer has said. Read what he says needs to change.

A senior police officer has called for action on domestic violence after a spate of weekend crime across the Territory.

Commander Danny Bacon addressed the media on Monday to highlight the crime which ‘dwarfs’ all others in the Territory. 

“I’ll bet you every single one of those (alleged offenders) have either been exposed to domestic violence, has been a victim of domestic violence, or a perpetrator of domestic violence,” he said.

“And really, that’s where we need to go as an organisation in regards to reinvesting in that particular area – in saying all that we’ve had some horrific offences over the weekend.”

The comments come after NT Police responded to multiple separate incidents over the weekend in which both minors and adults were arrested.

In Malak on Saturday, a vehicle was allegedly stolen and rammed through the gate of a residence before the offender fled the scene.

A short time later, several youths allegedly entered a residence in which a 28-year-old man was allegedly assaulted and items were stolen.

Police allege that a short time later the same offenders assaulted a 36-year-old woman in a carpark and stole her Suzuki, narrowly missing her as they fled in the vehicle.

Strike Force Trident and the Dog Operation Unit arrested two 14-year-olds, three 13-year-olds and one 16-year-old in relation to the offences.

Commander Bacon also cited incidents in Woodroffe, The Gardens, Wulagi, and Alice Springs in which domestic violence occurred or is believed to have been a factor.

The incident in Woodroffe on Saturday left three women with knife wounds after an alleged stabbing.

In The Gardens, a 43-year-old woman was left with significant injuries – including a compound fracture – after a 36-year-old man allegedly assaulted the victim.

Commander Bacon said the crimes were a sign the Territory had failed to address the domestic violence “epidemic”.

“The significant assaults we’re seeing today are really some of the symptoms of the history of ingrained domestic violence in our community,” he said.

“So we talked about addressing the causes, (we’re) talking about your investment in domestic violence, family violence, education support, your health, your education, your child protection services.

“That’s where we need to – as a community – really put those support (services) and investment around so I’m standing before you as a police officer talking about these critical incidents at the bottom of the cliff because that’s what I’m here today talking to you about because of our failure to address that domestic violence epidemic that we have in our community.”

Originally published as Police Commander addresses NT’s ‘epidemic’ of domestic violence