No domestic violence spike in COVID-19 restrictions: NSW Police

NSW Police believe ramping up apprehended violence order checks and monitoring repeat offenders has helped keep a lid on domestic violence outbreak. New figures should the domestic violence homicide toll is half of what it was this time last year.

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NSW Police has avoided a spike in domestic violence reports, even though COVID-19 restrictions have created pressure cooker environments for family and relationship violence.

Exclusive police data showed a significant uptick in breaches of apprehended violence orders (AVOs) since restrictions were introduced.

An abuse victim is comforted at a domestic violence support organisation.

NSW Police believe that increase coincides with “ramped up police proactivity across the state”, with thousands more AVO compliance checks in March and April compared to last year.

There were more than 8000 checks carried out in April alone with 1500 breach AVO incidents recorded.

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In comparison, in April 2019, there were 1268 breach AVO incidents.

“There is no doubt that the COVID-19 social distancing and self-isolation restrictions have presented inherent and very real risks to domestic violence victims and their families,” Commissioner Mick Fuller said.

“The data we see is heartening but this is in no way the end of our efforts.”

There have been four domestic violence homicides this year, compared with 11 the same time last year.

Mr Fuller, who shaped some of the force’s existing DV strategies as the domestic and family violence spokesman when he was an Assistant Commissioner, said one single DV homicide indicated there was a long way to go.

“But I am relieved to see the figure has not increased during COVID-19 and has in fact dropped,” he said.

Police and victim support groups have been cautiously watching domestic violence rates since Australians were urged to stay at home to beat the spread of COVID-19.

While NSW Police has not reported dramatic increases in DV offences, other organisations, like Victim Services and support centres, have recorded more calls for help during the pandemic.

That reinforces the fact that some victims are reluctant to report their abuse to police.

According to NSW Police, domestic violence assaults were relatively similar to last year, with 35 more reports in 2020 compared to the same time last year.

In April, there were 2194 domestic violence reports, 214 less than the year before.