Domestic violence makes up the ‘bulk’ of Darwin police call outs

Police have revealed where the bulk of their resources go as the latest crime statistics are unveiled. See how your region’s crime rate compares in the latest crime stats.

Commander Danny Bacon. Picture: Tia Ewen

Confronting the hidden abuse within Darwin homes has become a “typical” experience for Territory police officers, as domestic violence complaints dominate emergency call outs.

Commander Daniel Bacon said the bulk of police work was being ignored by public crime narratives, which focused on property offences.

“In the last 24 hours we had two unlawful entries across the greater Darwin region,” Mr Bacon said.

“Over the same period we had 41 domestic violence offences.

“That’s where the workload is, and that’s where we need to make better inroads.”

Mr Bacon said the era of abuse only being discussed behind closed doors needed to end.

“It needs to be full front of mind, so we can address it and actually talk about it,” he said.

“(And) its about making sure that not just the police response is appropriate, but other services and supports are there for the victim.”

The latest NT Police crime statistics found over the past 12-months to September officers responded to 5,995 domestic violence assaults.

Commander Danny Bacon. Picture: Tia Ewen

The number of assault call-outs has been consistently increasing for four years.

“Every report of domestic violence is taken seriously,” Mr Bacon said.

“Through Taskforce Lyra we’ve dedicated a lot more resources to make sure we’re investigating in a much more timely manner.”

He said everyone, from police to government and community services, were giving their all to help victims.

“What we need to ensure is that we’re better connected to other agencies to provide that support,” he said.

“You would never not back any additional resources into this space.”

Mr Bacon said police were also watching closely to see the impact of the end of alcohol bans in more than 400 remote communities.

“(We need to watch) if that balloon is squeezed, and where the pressure points are and how we can address those,” he said.

In May the Northern Territory lifted laws banning the sale of alcohol in dry communities, allowing booze to flow legally for the first time in 15 years.

Three months since the booze bans came into effect in July, Mr Bacon said the rates of alcohol related assaults differed between regions.

The latest crime statistics found across the Territory there was a 4 per cent increase in the number of alcohol related assault over the past 12 months to September.

But in Alice Springs alcohol related assaults increased by 43 per cent over the same period, while Katherine increased by 18 per cent.

In the three months from July to September after the booze bans lifted there were 373 assaults in Alice Springs.

Over the same period in 2021 there were 200 alcohol related assaults.

Katherine went from 108 alcohol related assaults in July to September 2021, to 169 once the booze ban lifted.

Outside region with previously dry communities, alcohol related assaults either had a significant decrease or a minor change.

Darwin boozy assaults dropped by 14 per cent over the 12 months to September, Palmerston had no change, while Tennant Creek dropped by 33 per cent.

Mr Bacon said alcohol was a consistent theme across all types of offending.

“It’s also featuring in domestic violence, anti-social behaviour, in property offending, shoplifting, or breaking into commercial and residential premises,” Mr Bacon said.

“It features within offenders and victims, in family situations, and our road death toll.”

Originally published as Domestic violence makes up the ‘bulk’ of Darwin police call outs