White victims ‘less likely to report domestic violence’

AUSTRALIAN police have seen a dramatic increase in the reporting of acts intended to cause injury, which includes domestic violence — but international analysis shows white victims are less likely to report abuse than other ethnic groups.

THE number of domestic violence incidents being reported to police has increased in the past five years, according to analysis by the Australian Institute of Criminology.

Recorded crime data indicates Australian police have seen a 10 per cent increase in the reporting of acts intended to cause injury, which includes domestic violence, with 75,847 incidents reported nationally between 2015-16, a dramatic growth from the 68,334 reported in 2011-12.

The review — which looked at trends in reports of domestic violence to police from studies in Australia and overseas — also found that overall white victims were less likely to report domestic violence than non-white ethnic groups.

“Increased reporting may indicate that domestic violence is becoming more prevalent because there are simply more offenders and offenders are becoming more violent,” wrote Isabella Voce and Hayley Boxall in the Australian Institute of Criminology findings.

However, the growing numbers may not necessarily mean Australia’s level of domestic violence is worsening.

Researchers looked at 21 studies to identify trends in the reporting of domestic violence.

The hidden nature of the crime has long meant violence is often allowed to continue undetected.

True Crime Australia: Top cop’s warning to cold case killers

Cleared: Henry Keogh and the evidence that didn’t add up

“Because domestic violence typically occurs on private premises and behind closed doors, police are unlikely to detect domestic violence through their routine patrolling activities,” confirmed Voce and Boxall.

“Instead, their awareness of domestic violence is dependent on a report being made by the victim or a third party.”

Historically, the misconception that domestic violence is a lower-socio economic problem has also deterred women from higher socio-economic backgrounds from speaking about their experience.

In the worst cases, this can result in spousal homicide. Statistics reveal one woman a week is murdered by her current or former partner.

Allison Baden-Clay was murdered by her husband Gerard Baden-Clay in 2012. Her family now campaign for domestic violence awareness. Picture: Supplied

But the growing numbers may also show community attitudes are improving through raised awareness. Victims and witnesses may be more adept at recognising signs of domestic violence and feel less shame about reporting.

The increased numbers could also indicate positive changes in police response, meaning victims are more satisfied with police response and more likely to return to seek help.

Of concern, is that largely it is only the most severe forms of physical violence resulting in serious injury that are being reported. Typically, white victims of more minor incidents of domestic violence, particularly when the violence has occurred out of sight of children and may include serious psychological or emotional abuse, are less likely to come forward to police.

“Factors encouraging victims to report include the perception that the abuse is serious enough to constitute a crime or represent an acute danger, or threats to the safety or wellbeing of the victim’s children,” wrote Voce and Boxall.

The analysis, which drew on 21 Australian and international studies, found “consistent evidence” that white victims were less likely to report domestic violence to police when compared to other ethnic groups.

However, it noted the only Australian study that looked at ethnicity and reporting found no difference between indigenous and non-indigenous victims.