Push for domestic violence offender register after dating app death of Dannielle Finlay-Jones
Online dating is a popular way to meet potential partners but perpetrators of domestic violence see it as “a smorgasbord” of opportunity for predators, experts say.
NSW
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The alleged murder of Dannielle Finlay-Jones by a man with a history of domestic violence has renewed calls for a national domestic violence offender database to allow women to check the criminal history of potential dates.
Ashley Gaddie, 33, was arrested on Tuesday, two days after Ms Finlay-Jones, 31, was found with serious head injuries at a friend’s home in Western Sydney.
Since 2016, Gaddie has had five separate AVOs taken out against him by former partners. Gaddie was also convicted of stalking, choking and two counts of assault against one woman.
When Gaddie allegedly killed Ms Finlay-Jones, he was also on bail facing charges of assaulting another woman.
Hayley Foster from sexual and domestic violence advocacy group Full Stop said a register similar to the sex offenders register was required to improve safety.
“We’ve been calling for this for many years and it is devastating it has to come to this for governments to sit up and take notice.
“We have a sex offender’s register, domestic violence is a patterned crime, someone who has used it against a partner in the past is very likely to use it again in the future, so there is a public safety argument to have a register so we can protect the public.
“We also need those organisations (dating sites) to do those security checks. A national register akin to the sex offenders register so that can be tapped into so you can check someone’s record. “
Ms Foster said dating apps should also be required to do checks on members.
“Actually requiring those dating platforms to do identity checks, that they be required to do some basic checks whether that person is on the sex offender register otherwise there is no way around the truth that is offering a smorgasbord for those who use predatory behaviour.
“Because there weren’t any sexual offences he didn’t make it onto a sex offender’s register but he was convicted of non-fatal strangulation,” she said.
Sherele Moody who runs the Red Heart Campaign, a memorial to women and children lost to violence, said women were finding their own way to warn others through social media.
“Women are using social media to out domestic violence abusers who are on dating apps, so they are groups set up with thousands of female members and when they decide to meet up they literally drop his photo and profile into the group to see if others have had interactions and know his history, so women are taking precautions. Women are finding innovative ways to still pursue a potential of a relationship but to do it safely,” Ms Moody said, agreeing a DV register was required.
“If the state, federal and territory governments came together and put together a national domestic violence offender database that was national then people who have concerns about a potential date or family members who are concerned about who their loved one is dating, if they could put in a request for information and background check, perhaps that would reduce intimate partner abuse in Australia.
Sex Crimes Squad Commander Jayne Doherty said NSW Police have met with law enforcement agencies across Australia and digital platforms, including dating apps, social media and rideshare apps, to ensure that user safety is at the forethought of the operators.
“Investigators engage in regular meetings with companies and would gladly sit down with them once again to continue the ongoing dialogue about safety and what can be improved on,” she said, adding people should report bad experiences to police even if they don’t want the matter investigated.
“There are Sexual Assault Reporting Options available through the NSWPF Community Portal for people who don’t want their matter investigated, but would like police to make a record of the incident.
“Anyone who has had a bad experience with a person on a dating app is encouraged to report it through the app and to police. Personal safety is important, no matter how you have initially engaged with a person. Meet in a public place, have a friend nearby or available that you can message if you feel uncomfortable. Let someone know who you are meeting up with and keep screenshots of information to want to record,” Commander Doherty said.
One of the most popular apps, Tinder, has partnered with the Match Group to create a “law enforcement portal with a dedicated team to respond to requests for information from law enforcement and provide information to them during an investigation,” a spokeswoman said.
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