Queensland stalking numbers double as calls for rehab programs grow

The number of people charged with stalking offences in Queensland has more than doubled and has been partly linked to one key factor.

Stalking offences are on the rise

The number of people charged with stalking offences in Queensland has more than doubled in the past five years, sparking renewed calls for all domestic violence offenders to be subjected to rehabilitation programs. Exclusive data from the Queensland Police Service revealed more than 1000 people, including 1030 adults and 71 juveniles, were charged with stalking offences last year, while just 427 adults and 33 juveniles were charged in 2020.

The data also shows 181 adults and 14 juveniles had already been charged with stalking offences in the first two months of this year – between January 1 and February 28.

The data shows there has been more than a 100 per cent increase in people charged with stalking offences in the past five years. The alarming numbers have prompted renewed calls for all domestic violence offenders to be subjected to rehabilitation programs, with Women’s Legal Service Queensland CEO Nadia Bromley saying the state government needed to consider behavioural change programs and interventions for those charged with stalking.

Ms Bromley said the growing numbers could be partly linked to increased awareness about coercive control and stalking behaviours.

“We know that stalking is a very common behaviour in coercive control,” she said.

“There are also more ways of detecting tech abuse and people have become more savvy, so it could also be that more people are aware that they are being stalked.

“Some of those really persistent behaviours, stalking, following, do have a strong correlation with high levels of violence and fatality.”

Ms Bromley said there were more than 40,000 DVOs issued by Queensland courts last year along with more than 30,000 “breaches of those orders”.

Speaking about the recent announcement that police will be able to issue instant protections for domestic violence victims without going to court, Ms Bromley said it was important the directions were “victim-centric”. “I think the primary consideration has to be safety and that the orders are doing what they are intended to,” she said.

Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Minister Amanda Camm previously said: “We need to respond to the scourge of domestic and family violence, it is growing at a rate that is out of control.

“It is not just a woman’s problem, it is not just a victim’s problem, this is a whole of community effort and we need to focus on perpetrator accountability.” It comes after the Queensland Police Service revealed it was unable to keep up with skyrocketing demand for assistance in domestic violence, leaving hundreds of domestic and family violence calls for help unanswered. QPS reported a 20 per cent rise in demand, receiving more than 200,000 DFV calls for help annually. A QPS spokesman said people charged with unlawful stalking, intimidation, harassment or abuse “may indicate an increased risk of future violent and harmful offences including domestic violence”.

Originally published as Queensland stalking numbers double as calls for rehab programs grow