Townsville domestic violence rates hit worst ever recorded as DV police unit gets extra staff

Frightened and laying in a hospital bed, a mum bears strangulation marks on her neck. This is the reality thousands of women in Townsville as the region grapples through the worst domestic violence rates its ever seen.

FRIGHTENED and laying in a hospital bed, a Townsville mum’s world has tipped upside down.

She bears strangulation marks on her neck after the man meant to love her, and father of her children, strangled her until she almost passed out.

Another woman subjected to the same fate is wheeled into the ward just hours later, the same marks on her neck, adding to the growing and horrific number of domestic violence incidents in the region.

This was the reality for two women just last week, and the reality thousands of women in the North are facing as Townsville grapples through the worst domestic violence rates its ever seen.

But its one issue which the region’s police and agencies are determined to stop this White Ribbon Day.

Townsville Vulnerable Persons Unit officers, Senior Constable Emily Lyons and Sergeant Elise Feltham. Picture: Shae Beplate.

Leading the charge against the city’s domestic violence scourge is the Vulnerable Persons Unit officer-in-charge Sergeant Elise Feltham, who has a team of dedicated officers behind her.

Sergeant Feltham recounted the horrific strangulations where her team attended and supported the two victims last week.

“That’s a precursor to homicide for us. We take it extraordinarily seriously and to get two in one day is just absolutely unacceptable.”

Six of Townsville’s 10 Vulnerable Persons Unit officers. (From left) Constable Donna Voss, Constable Holly Young, Senior Constable Rowena Hujbert, Sergeant Elise Feltham, Senior Constable Emily Lyons and Senior Constable Ryan Power. Picture: Shae Beplate.

Townsville Police receive 30 calls about domestic violence every day, and these incidents account for 40 per cent of all triple-0 calls.

Damning police data shows the Northern Region recorded 6214 breaches of domestic violence order offences between November, 2020 and October, 2021.

More than 4000 of these offences were committed in the Townsville District alone.

It’s the highest number of DV offences ever recorded annually in the region, and is more than 35 per cent higher than the previous year.

The sobering numbers continue into the courts, with Townsville Magistrates Court recording the highest number of contravene DVO charges and “flagged offences” in Queensland.

Townsville District Chief Superintendent Craig Halon said many factors had led to the spike.

“You’ve got people who are out of out of employment because of Covid. You’ve got school, you’ve got financial (issues), there’s a number of reasons that people commit domestic violence,” Supt Hanlon said.

Chief Superintendent Craig Hanlon raises awareness about DV on White Ribbon Day. Picture: Shae Beplate.

“But you know what, none of them are reasons that should be the cause of domestic and family violence.”

One of the region’s vital DV organisations North Queensland Domestic Violence Resource Service has also seen a jump in numbers.

CEO Verity Bennett said more than 500 women, children and men come through their doors every month, and a lack of housing wasn’t helping their cause.

“It is a significant issue here in Townsville and one which is a community we really do need to get to the bottom of,” Ms Bennett said.

Verity Bennett, CEO North Queensland Domestic Violence Resource Services. Picture: Shae Beplate.

“We work very closely with partners to assist in seeking alternative accommodation. But when there simply is no accommodation that puts people at greater risk.”

Superintendent Hanlon said domestic violence had become an epidemic.

“We have significant issues across Townsville in relation to property crime, assaults, road safety, and we’re dealing with Covid, but the one constant in Townsville … is domestic and family violence.”

To help bolster the efforts of the region’s Vulnerable Persons Unit, Superintendent Hanlon announced their team of four would be increased to 10.

Sergeant Feltham said it gave her officers a chance to focus on prevention, and also work with respondents, as well as victims.

The six-month trial kicked off on Monday.

Originally published as Townsville domestic violence rates hit worst ever recorded as DV police unit gets extra staff