Stalking, assault, arson among crimes on increase, report says

The Far North is an increasingly violent place to live, according to data in the newly-released Queensland Crime Report.

CAIRNS is becoming a more violent place to live, according to statistics in the Queensland Crime report for 2020-21.

Cairns has the fourth highest crime rate by region in the state.

Of more than 32,000 reported crimes, assault was up by 16.5 per cent, serious assault up by 10.3 per cent, common assault up by 27.9 per cent, sexual offences up by 23.8 per cent, rape and attempted rape up by 8.1 per cent, and other sexual offences 29.9 per cent.

Alarmingly, stalking was up by 92.9 per cent with 72 offences reported.

Arson was up by 27.5 per cent with 63 offences reported.

The Main Entrance to Cairns Central Shopping Centre was closed by police for several hours after a 51-year-old man was killed on September 22 last year. Picture: Eily Barker.

And a dominant theme in Cairns Magistrates Court every day is offenders facing court for breaching a domestic violence order – an offence up by 19.3 per cent up with 3,088 offences reported.

Frontline support workers say perpetrators need to be held accountable.

Women’s Centre FNQ manager Nicole Dye said she was not surprised at the figures.

“But these are not just numbers on a page, these are victims fearing for their safety at the hands of a perpetrator, we aren’t doing enough for victims in Queensland and there is no accountability for the perpetrator if they breach the order – the onus has to be put back on the perpetrator,” she said.

“We have to invest more in perpetrator programs, there isn’t nearly enough, and that has to be priority, and we need to train police to deal with these situations more thoroughly, and have information sharing across all departments.”

“We see it with the numbers coming through our doors – our figures are just going up and up and up,” she said.

“People have to realise a DVO is just a piece of paper, it doesn’t put a protective shield around the woman.

Police officers rope off a large area of the rear car park at Stockland Shopping Centre, Burleigh Heads, after numerous bomb threats were phoned through to police.

“There needs to be more protection for the victim and more onus on the perpetrator.”

She said the number one cause of homelessness for women in the Far North was domestic violence.

The Women’s Centre provides services to assist women and children in Cairns and Atherton, providing information, resources and support including crisis support, a DV court support program, family support programs and a young parent program.

Cairns Police say early intervention is key to preventing fatal outcomes.

The Domestic and Family Violence Death Review and Advisory Report for 2020-2021 said at least 655 lives had been lost to domestic and family violence in Queensland since 2006.

Anyone who needs to get out of a domestic or family violence situation urgently can call DV Connect on 1800 811 811 for advice.

Originally published as Stalking, assault, arson among crimes on increase, report says