Sydney’s domestic violence hotspots listed

Shocking new figures have exposed the scourge of domestic violence across Sydney’s suburbs, with the pandemic contributing to a spike in assaults.

Kate Lockley

2 min read

June 11, 2021 - 6:00AM

Blacktown Advocate

Blacktown

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Domestic violence has reached alarming levels in suburbs across Sydney, with western Sydney recording some of the highest rates of DV assaults.

New crime data shows that the Penrith and Blacktown Local Government Areas recorded the highest number of incidents of domestic violence-related assaults across metropolitan Sydney.

According to the latest figures from the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, there were 2195 domestic assaults in the Blacktown region between 2019 and 2020, while the Penrith region recorded almost 1400 incidents.

However, when categorised per 100,000 of the population, the Penrith LGA ranked as Sydney’s DV hotspot.

The Campbelltown Council region recorded the third highest rate of DV incidents, followed by Sydney, Liverpool and Cumberland.

Blacktown Women's and Girls Health Centre chief executive Jhan Leach. Picture: Monique Harmer

Domestic violence was up almost 20 per cent per year in the Parramatta region, while incidents in Liverpool increased by almost 15 per cent over the same period.

The Canterbury-Bankstown region also witnessed an increase in DV assaults, spiking by close to 12 per cent each year.

In positive news, the Northern Beaches region saw a dramatic 28 per cent drop in DV in this time.

The figures were reflective of a wider trend across Sydney’s northern suburbs, where domestic violence was at its lowest.

The Mosman LGA had 20 incidents of DV over the 2019-2020 period, while the Willoughby area recorded 95 assaults.

Domestic violence assaults have spiked in many areas of Sydney

The Blacktown Women’s and Girl’s Heath Centre saw a 34 per cent increase in domestic violence cases during the pandemic last year, which put a significant strain on the vital service.

Throughout 2020, the centre provided services on almost 2400 occasions, with the North West Sydney Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service aiding more than 6500 cases between July 2019 and June last year.

Blacktown Women’s and Girl’s Health Centre chief executive Jhan Leach said COVID-19 massively contributed to their increased workload.

“2020 was a really challenging year for us as the COVID lockdowns sadly meant a big spike in cases,” Ms Leach said.

“I have over 20 years’ experience in the domestic violence support sector and although we’ve worked so hard, it appears to be getting worse.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a surge in women and children fleeing unsafe domestic environments.

But thanks to a recent donation from Blacktown Workers Club, the service hopes to assist 7500 women and children fleeing unsafe domestic environments.

“We have been calling on the government to release funds for a long time and so this donation is going to make a huge difference to women in crisis and for us to keep up with the distressing rise,” she said.

“It will allow us to provide a year’s worth of emergency accommodation, essential supplies and, case management counselling and support through their court cases.”