Police ramp up home visits in domestic violence crackdown

Police have dramatically ramped up their checks on those subjected to domestic violence court orders in a bid to keep people safe during the lockdown.

Police have dramatically ramped up their checks on those subjected to domestic violence court orders, in a bid to keep people safe during the lockdown, new figures reveal.

And fears of vulnerable people becoming trapped with abusive partners due to Covid restrictions has prompted one senior cop to declare that it is a reasonable excuse to leave home to escape domestic violence.

Assistant Commissioner Leanne McCusker – a 33-year veteran officer who is the boss of NSW’s domestic and family violence squad – has told The Daily Telegraph her officers had increased their checks on those who have apprehended domestic violence orders by 82 per cent in the last year.

Assistant Commissioner Leanne McCusker says it’s not illegal for people to leave their homes to flee domestic violence despite Covid rules. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Assistant Commissioner McCusker said she wanted to get the message out that it was legal to leave home if a ­person was fleeing violence, despite the new Covid rules.

“It’s important to remind everybody that fleeing a violent or abusive relationship or seeking domestic and family violence-related services really, really is a reasonable excuse to leave home,” she said.

“I really want to make sure that message is clear for anybody who is in a violent relationship – leaving home, escaping that risk of harm, that it’s OK to do so. Quite simply, it’s a crime, there’s no excuse for any level of ­domestic and family violence, I’d be concerned if someone continued to stay in that situation.”

Assistant Commissioner McCusker cut her teeth as a frontline officer on the streets of Redfern and Maroubra. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Statistics reveal that in the same period, NSW Police increased its ­domestic violence suspect target ­management plans by 119 per cent – a program seeking to prevent future offending by targeting repeat offenders.

Assistant Commissioner McCusker knows the devastating effects of domestic violence first-hand after having cut her teeth on the streets of Redfern and Maroubra before rising to the rank of commander at Kings Cross.

She said she was particularly worried about the long-term effects of domestic violence on children.

Anyone experiencing domestic or family violence should report to police or use other support services, including 1800 RESPECT.